I have several naloxone kits in my house and my kids carry them in their backpacks. I'm pro harm-reduction.

With that in mind, what I'm "actually trying to say" is that

a) any time we can make a medication less harmful, that's a good thing; and,

b) if this new molecule relieves pain as well as fentanyl does, it will surely be used by people who are addicted to drugs or who are using drugs recreationally.

The bigger question that goes way beyond the scope of Scripps' research contribution is whether our society can begin to accept that people use drugs like fentanyl to treat depression, trauma, anxiety, and pain of all sorts. And that criminalizing their efforts to treat themselves does not lead to any improvement in their wellbeing or the wellbeing of our society.