An idea advanced that pain counteracted opiates’ euphoric effect and thus reduced the risk of addiction. In a statement on its website, the American Pain Society claimed that risk of addiction was low when opiates are used to treat patients in pain. There appeared to be no ceiling on the dose of opiate painkillers a pain patient might take. Pain, the APS went on, acted against the tendency of opiates to stop the lungs from breathing. Thus, withholding the drugs “on the basis of respiratory concerns is unwarranted.”
