Opioids have truly become the opiate the people, from big cities to Mayberry, over the last decade; despite the fervor, we haven’t yet developed a workable plan. This week we discuss new liability for pharmaceutical companies—and panic legislation that has burdened healthcare professionals without distinguishing different patients’ needs or making alternative pain management accessible. We contrast these ham-fisted solutions with more effective & nuanced strategies like weaning schedules, research and healthcare funding, supervised injection& test strips.