I've seen quite a few doctors complain that they feel pressure to minimize opioid dosing below what they consider medically justified, even for inpatient care.

I've seen quite a few doctors complain that they feel pressure to minimize opioid dosing below what they consider medically justified, even for inpatient care. We seem to have focused on restricting ideal-case prescriptions, even though we know the major problems are improper prescribing and slipping dosage schedules. (Oxycodone is labelled for 12-hour relief, but only offers ~8. The result is an addicting high/low cycle, movement off prescribed schedules, and running out of medicine early even during legitimate use - which leads people to illegal sources and makes addiction easier.) It's particularly silly for patients with short-term problems who won't even be getting opioid prescriptions on release. Someone laid up in a hospital bed on a morphine drip is not in a high-risk pool for going home and trying to recreate that experience. http://www.latimes.com/projects/oxycontin-part1/ http://www.latimes.com/projects/oxycontin-part1/