1) Nope and Nope. I think that XR Numorphan is going to be mainly for opiate-dependent patients, like people who have already been on Oxy and Duragesic and now need something stronger. Of course they could make all kinds of dosages and satisfy a wider variety of patients like Oxy does, but I think it would be too hard to compete with all the big players already in that market. Aside from that, I just don't think this drug will be popular enough to take any of the heat off of Oxy, especially with generic Oxy coming our way.

2) It certainly will be popular amongst junkies and recreational users. Let's pray people don't get stupid with it and high school kids respect how strong this stuff can potentially be. I think it will have its own clique of users, but I don't think it will be popular or widespread enough for it to be as demonized as OxyContin is and was.

3) In the forseeable future, I do think painkillers will be slightly tougher to get. But I also think that restrictions will ease some day (10-20 years?) on all drugs. I don't know that the War on Pain will ever be over before that time, but I think the War on Pot will be by then.

4) I think the existing rules will get slightly tougher and then gradually ease up over the next decade.

-yawkaw