War on Drugs vs. War on Pain?

Lately, Washington State has pushed through the fast-track healthcare bill House Bill 2876, which limits the availability of pain medication for its State residents.  Acetaminophen-containing meds such as over-the-counter Tylenol or prescription-only Vicodin are being whipped off the shelves in a frenzy to eradicate drug overdoses and liver failure.

The Washington State government is stepping in to protect its citizens.  ...Or is it? 

Reading reputable newspapers such as Seattle Times, or The Columbian place Washington State's government in the role of "Hero" by passing HB 2876 and limiting the prescription and sale of pain medication, claiming this will help put an end to overdoses and addiction to pain pills.  

But what about the other side of the story?  What about the millions chronic pain sufferers for whom these pain medications mean survival?  As reported by the Mayday Fund Pain Report of 2009, the US Department of Health and Human Services found that as many as 70 million Americans suffer chronic physical pain, be it a result of a tragic accident, Rheumatoid Arthritis, HIV, Fibermyosis or any other pain inducing illnesses.  If we take pain medication away from everyone in order to curb pain medication addiction and overdosing, what happens to these millions of legitimate chronic pain patients?

Below is a short report by Reason.TV, which looks at America's War on Drugs from the perspective of a sufferer of chronic pain.