Anyone who says "Prayer doesn't work" has never been a parent or doesn't remember their own childhood.
Sometimes the answer is "yes", but quite often the answer is "no." Just because you didn't get the answer you hoped for 100% of the time doesn't mean your requests were never heard.
Let's say you make a prayer request 10 times. Of those 10 times, 2 work out as you wanted, and 8 do not. How are you going to PROVE prayer was not the reason for a positive outcome those 2 times? The obvious answer is, you can't prove if prayer works or not. I challenge anyone who doubts prayer to show ANY example where science (medicine, engineering, nuclear energy, etc) results in guaranteed positive outcomes every single time.
What has been proven is that the power of positive thought, especially in medical treatments like cancer and addiction, has a significant impact on the patient. If they believe the treatment will work, it has a positive effect versus believing they will never get well. If they believe their prayers are being heard, that in and of itself creates the kind of hope that enhances treatment and may be the determining factor in whether or not it's successful.
Even if prayers don't result in a miracle and the patient is certain to die soon, at least their passing may be more peaceful if they believe their end is part of God's plan, and that their soul is prepared for what is next.
I fail to see the pragmatic rationale for trying to sh!t on people's religious beliefs when i doesn't affect anyone else.
They should stop trying to shove their secular beliefs down everyone's throats.