Precisely! And we cannot deny them their right to painkillers,
esp if they complain of 'pain' and it has been prescribed.
Even the doctor we have who specialises in dealing with these
addicts cannot do anything with them sometimes.
And the favourite phrases of these addicts are :
"I know, dear, that these drugs can get me addicted but I only ask
for them when I'm in pain."
"I'm not addicted to Morphine / Pethidine / Oxycontin / All of the
aforementioned." (Yeeeeeaaaaaah,
riiiiiight! Because of you, we've had to get the Pharmacists to top
up our Drug Cupboard everyday!
)
"I am very careful about not getting addicted to these
drugs."
Ah well, these addicts come from all levels of society too! Rich or
not-so-rich, educated or not educated, blue collar or white collar,
young or old. You can have a white-haired ol' grandma who's very
polite and sweet, but who's a painkiller addict. 
And almost always, they are in denial.
