I remember a few years ago, my elderly mother’s sciatica flared up - she went to her doctor and he gave her a prescription for a large bottle of Oxycontin, which she filled - she had several refills she could get and the doctor tole her to call if she needed more. She took one and it put her in a daze for about 12 hours, even though she felt great. She refused to take another, and offered the entirely full bottle to me (NO). I have no desire to take opioids, I’ve seen what they can do to people.
I was shocked at how easily these were given to her.
I ended up finding some easy ways to ease the sciatica (sit with feet on the floor, use alternating ice and heat, get up every 10 minutes). She never had another attack for the rest of her life.
That's not the way it works any more. Now patients have to see a pain management doctor once a month, and pee in a jar at least every three months to make sure he is taking the meds and not selling it.
It's an enormous and obscenely profitable branch of medicine.