How many people get the opiates and do fine? How many do not? Many and not many respectively. The difference is quite often due to the quality of the doctor. The answer to this problem, like every social problem, is caring. Looking after friends and relatives. Talking with doctors, etc. The people who simply want to ban opiates are solving the wrong problem and will create new black market problems.
Sometimes it depends on medical treatment used to cure the cause of the pain. A while ago I had severe back pain, and was prescribed an opiate. The official information stated that if the cause of the pain was eliminated, the need for pain medication would be eliminated.
It took two bad experiences with so-called "pain management" specialists for my primary care doctor to send me to a real doctor of physical therapy; It took her over a year and a half to get my back pain free! But we did it. I say we because I was the one who had to "do the work."
I passed the one year anniversary of "no opiates" last week. I know this is not an answer for chronic pain sufferers. But for those who can be helped; find a real doctor with a track record of success, follow their directions, see what happens.