Terminalxylem
Footballguy
Of course it is low - he is limiting his numbers to surgical patients who were diagnosed with opioid use disorder by the prescribing physician. Surgeons aren't adept at diagnosing OUD, nor are primary care providers, for that matter. More importantly, most of the patients were receiving opioids for acute, severe post-op pain, which is a noncontroversial use of the drugs.
That being said, he is ignoring the spectrum of abuse involving opioids. Many people use their drugs for non-approved indications , including recreationally, without meeting diagnostic criteria for OUD.
He also conveniently ignores diversion of the prescriptions, which is increasingly common, especially among teens :
And there are more subtle ways they are abused. Overstating one's degree of pain in an attempt to receive opioids is fairly common, as anyone who works in healthcare can attest. Ten out of ten pain is usually not accompanied by normal vital signs, ability to carry out one's usual daily activities or doze off comfortably, for example. Not returning unused pain meds is also very common, which increases the likelihood they'll be diverted and used inappropriately in the future.
The OP's point was valid, even though he didn't consider legitimate reasons opioids weren't prescribed. And I don't think Just Win Baby is trying to misrepresent things, but his experience dealing with his wife's chronic pain certainly influences his opinions.
As you suggested, the truth isn't likely quite as bad as either side is depicting, but prescription opioid abuse and untreated pain are both major problems facing the medical community. Considering ~30% of the population is experiencing pain at any given time, with higher rates of chronic pain in the elderly, physicians need to be judicious in their prescribing practices, more so than in years past.
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