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I think there is something wrong with obsessing about "sobriety". Spinal nerve pain is known as one of the most severe types of pain. In some cases it can not be cured. It seems entirely reasonable for persons in this sad state to choose a permanant use of pain killers over permanant pain. If doctors are not willing to prescribe in this event it is yet another unintended side effect of the absurd WOD than of any realistic cost/benefit analysis of what is better for the patient.

It may very well be true that for some people pain killer addiction is the best of several bad choices. They should not be ridiculed with ridiculous terms like "sobriety".

I agree. And consider this: For years now we've debated euthinasia with many objections against it. One of the reasons we've heard why we don't need it is becasue we have medicines that can alleviate the pain and improve peoples lives. Yet, at the same time we talk about these wonderful pain relievers, we have some in the government who are making it impossible to get access to them...threatening doctors with lawsuits and even jail time. Suicide is often a result from those who can't get releif from their pain.

Ironically, other than addiction, the physical damage that narcotics cause is often less than that caused by NSAIDs and even OTC Tylenol. Liver damage and stomach bleeding is often associated with chronic pain patients who take "non" narcotic pain relievers over an extended period of time. That's not to minimze the addiction...but if pain is properly managed, I don't see the problem in helping people live pain-free if it works. Narcotic pain relief usually, only becomes a problem when people abuse it and take excessive amounts...or just don't have pain. For those who have severe pain, the body uses the medicine differently than those who are taking it for a buzz and addiction is less a problem.