Pain Pill Crackdown Leaves Chronic Patients Without Needed Meds

State and federal crackdowns on prescription drug abuse have led to unintended consequences for chronic pain patients who rely on narcotics to function. Patti DeSalvo told NBC affiliate WFLA that her Walgreens pharmacist recently cut her off, refusing to fill any prescriptions for Oxycontin and Morphine at any Walgreens location. Without the medication, DeSalvo said she can barely get out of bed. “Pain like you would not believe,” DeSalvo said. “I mean, my whole body aches.”