Paul,

Good point about the heavy restrictions and controls now placed on those involved with prescribing and dispensing these very strong pain medications.

Even for clearly essential medical need, the procedures are a real burden. Triplicate hard copy scripts on special imprinted paper, pharmacies always doing double triple checks and then checking their very limited inventory.

I'm certain there is some system that monitors how many scripts each doctors prescribes of the schedule II drugs too and fearful about getting a call from the DEA.

On a personal note of the three main specialists: MO, RO, ENT, I found the RO was most free with writing the heavy hitting pain meds. I got the sense prescribing these are far more part of their daily pattern than other doctors.