Maybe my knowledge on this is incomplete - "I'm not a doctor, Kim!" - but the big risks I know of with Ibuprofen are that it's REALLY hard on the stomach (my cardiologist was concerned about this due to a med I take that affects blood clotting) and increased risk of stroke. So I'm a little dubious about the cardiologist's warning part of this story. Another curious aspect is that the standard prescription strength Ibuprofen tablet I know of is 800mg. So, if true, the guy is self-medicating. I also have difficulty believing the guy can't get some "opioid" on prescription. I don't use, so I'm not familiar with the hoops, but I wonder if there's some relevant fact that the DUpipo is dishonestly omitting.
As for the opioid crisis thingy, take it up with all the D Congress-Critters and such who blew the crisis whistle. In part it was a move to slander rural and "working class" Americans who dared to vote for Trump. Whether they "cried wolf" over nothing or over a wolf cub, actions have consequences.