I would think the doc didn't trust him; prescription narcs can be a very slippery slope. I do remember when I was in nursing school, and one of my first patients was a 30-something male with Crohn's, who was admitted to have a central line inserted (IV line in a large vein in the chest) to receive TPN (nutrition through an IV). I distinctly remember that he was on rather large doses of methadone and Percocet. It can be a very painful disease...
We almost lost our daughter to Crohn's this last spring. She is now in full remission, so for her 16th birthday we took her to San Diego. Yesterday we went on a harbor dinner cruise. Today and tomorrow it's Sea World.