The overwhelming number of addicts began by taking prescribed opioids, implying either they or their insurer was paying a doctor. Not your typical street bum. They weren’t taking them recreationally. But then they were cut off.
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I don’t think this is true, not in my work. I see a broad variety of addicts and although there are some working and middle class prescribed opiate addicts, the vast majority are people who like to ride the drug, whatever the drug.
Again, another reason why it is so important for there to be a demographic study.
A rather weird anecdote I have from it is through a doctor of mine, whose office building hosted several doctors, in a hospital district in an upscale area.
A “Doctor Drugs” moved in across the corridor from my doctor, and quickly became a high traffic area for wealthy people who drove expensive cars. The operation only lasted a month before being shut down by the DEA.
Suddenly the flow of people on seeing his office closed went into a panic and went into my doctor’s office to ask for prescriptions, even though he does not prescribe any opiates. This was when I showed up for a regular appointment.
My doctor’s staff were enraged by all these insistent upscale junkies demanding drugs. I saw perhaps a half dozen wearing professional and business attire being told to get out before they put a sign on the door threatening to call the police.
But even back then the thought crossed my mind that these were not people who would go through the usual drug treatment, so where would they go? Everything about their addiction would be unusual: their suppliers, and their ability to afford high quality lawyers if they were arrested.