Wait, you were talking about the US? I'm kind of surprised, since not being able to get "real painkillers" is one of the talking points I sometimes read about m

Wait, you were talking about the US? I'm kind of surprised, since not being able to get "real painkillers" is one of the talking points I sometimes read about my local (german) system. Probably more focused on over-the-counter drugs, but this obviously also has an impact on what hospitals try to give. So yeah, you're experience doesn't really fit my worldview, unless this is a hard counter-reaction to the recent opioid-epidemic.