I cant speak for Whiskers, but my father, who is almost seventy and takes a similar dose of the same medication, is routinely forced to jump through an unreasonable amount of hoops just to get a recently-lowered prescription that barely lasts throughout the month. I say "barely lasts" because his new prescription always seems to arrive a few days late.

And the doctors could care less. Not only that, but if he complains about his medicine arriving late or about his dose being constantly lowered or about his treatment, then he is treated even worse.

The "hoops" I am referring to are: frequent drug tests, frequent classes/counseling an hours drive away, frequent alternative and experimental treatments an hours drive away, all the while being blatantly accused of being a drug-seeking addict.

My father is the most upstanding man I know. He is a Vietnam Veteran with related injuries who receives his treatment at the VA (which is the most inefficiently-run place I have ever witnessed. Seriously its a complete embarrassment. The arrogant doctors who know absolutely nothing about pain management, and who make no effort to hide that they care less doesnt even begin to cover whats wrong with that place..but I digress..). My father only agreed to accept opiates as a last resort. He has never had issues with alcohol/cigarettes/marijuana or any other drugs. He is an honest, church-going, hardworking gentleman who doesnt deserve to be humiliated multiple times per month to just live a nearly pain-free life.

This recent trend to eradicate opiates, while somewhat understandable, is leaving many good people with a life of constant severe pain.

Sorry for the rant. I got started, and I couldnt stop.