This is still occurring despite good evidence from studies of results in many subsets of chronic pain patients. First, you must remember that the physician's goal is to improve the life of the patient who suffers with chronic pain, not to cure the patient. Very few chronic pain patients undergo miracle cures. Treatment objectives are to increase comfort, increase physical functioning, and increase psychosocial functioning. We want to achieve this without severe and intractable side effects such as sedation, constipation, nausea, or decreased sexual function.
Addiction is the concern and fear of most patients and doctors.
Addiction is rare and is characterized by loss of control over drug use, compulsive drug use, and continued drug use despite physical and psychological norm. Withdrawal symptoms are not evidence of addiction. These are symptoms which occur with abrupt cessation of a medication, and occur with many medications including high blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and muscle relaxants. Therefore opioids are not to be feared. Using appropriate guidelines in appropriate patients, these medications can be highly effective.