The epidemic of opioid toxicity and death is an ongoing catastrophe.  However, despite the finger pointing at medical providers as being the primary cause, in actuality the main driver of this disaster is the misuse of this dangerous group of medications.  I see patients everyday with very real chronic pain who gain some relief and improved quality of life through their proper use of opiates but are being abruptly takeoff of these medications as providers fear the ongoing demonizing and government over-reach into their practices.    We need to focus more on the misuse of the medications, seeing that these dangerous pain killers stay out of the wrong hands and do a better job of educating the public.  Such an approach worked in reducing  the use of tobacco.  Interesting that the sale of tobacco is still permitted by the government even though this highly addictive drug is responsible for far many more deaths each year compared to opioid overdose.