The root of the problem may be our inability to very accurately remember pain intensity levels over long periods of time. Evolutionarily, it's important to reme

The root of the problem may be our inability to very accurately remember pain intensity levels over long periods of time. Evolutionarily, it's important to remember that something was painful; but not that it was exactly 6% more painful than some other sensation, or even 40%. So we don't, and we therefore lack the most important bit of information to get us off painkillers. The CDC says there's no evidence opiods reduce pain (at all) in the long run, and that's been my experience, too. But when you don't remember previous pain clearly enough to be sure you're back where you started (despite the drug) and you know that even partial withdrawal is really painful; it's easy to believe that the drug is still doing you good. In my experience, this means that most who people taking opiods for long periods end up back at their old pain levels, but aren't able to clearer remember what their pain was like before, whereas they know all too clearly that less painkiller means more pain right away, so they stay on the drugs. Even though they may now be getting no long-term benefit in reduced pain. But once they complete withdrawal they'll tell you that they don't seem to be worse off, for pain now that they've fully quit the opiods. Their pain levels seem about the same. Evolution has robbed us! Prove this, and most of the arguments over opiods for chronic illness and pain may end.