I work in Maryland too, it is declared a state of emergency here but they aren't really doing anything about it in my opinion. I know in Virginia they are requiring us to do a CE on opioid abuse in order to renew pharmacist licenses. In Tennessee it's bad there too. Anyone can walk into a pain clinic, cry about something, and boom 120 oxy 10's for the month. Soon that will become Oxycontin/Morphine Sulfate + Oxy 30's #120 for a month and then later will evolve to fentanyl + oxy IR for "prn for breakthrough pain" that winds up being taken around the clock. Many will be so inebriated you can't have productive conversations with them and they're still driving. Many of these people also drink alcohol which puts them at risk for OD symptoms... It's dangerous medical practice, and lord help you if you ever tell a prescriber that they shouldn't be doing this.
I've never once seen alternatives first before jumping to opioids, I've never once seen a physician decide to wean someone off and recommend PT or other meds, I've never seen prn pain meds used prn, it's around the clock... same with benzos. It's blatantly negligent medical practice with lax attitudes about prescribing these substances that in all cases will eventually lead to drug dependence. I don't see other countries practicing like this, and I've yet to hear of a "chronic pain" epidemic there in the absence of rampant opioid use.