Opioids are not a particularly harmful to most people. The harm is in the addiction not the chemical. Opioids are useful for treating acute pain, such as after

Opioids are not a particularly harmful to most people. The harm is in the addiction not the chemical. Opioids are useful for treating acute pain, such as after surgery. They are less useful for chronic pain but if the doctor and patient are able to responsibly manage dose escalation as tolerance develops they are also useful for chronic pain.