Here's the thing. A lot of those people became addicted taking exactly what their doctors prescribed. They trusted their doctors.  The doctors were either ignorant, careless, or greedy. Many trusted the pharmas who encouraged them to prescribe the stuff, promising that it wasn't addictive. 

Once addicted to opioids the concept of personal choice and responsibility evaporates for many. If you don't understand that you haven't spent much time around addicts.