Caused seems a bit strong. Certain genetic combinations seem to be linked to an increased susceptibility, along with an increase in other risk taking behaviors.
Vrai, my Dad was a 30 year functioning alchoholic, mt Mom, one of the strongest people I ever knew, struggled for years, like 15 with prescription painkiller addiction through the 80s and 90s. She was given painkillers during the late 70s for back pain and the system was far more lax back then. Get you hooked then leave you to work it out was the way it went.
I've had morphine, oxy, vicodin, the works, between diverteculitis, a kindey stone and a back surgery and continuing back pain. Having a fusion in three weeks as a matter of fact. I can maybe see the attraction, if your brain being active bothers you. I hate the feeling and will suffer great pain before taking anything. When given 20 Oxy three years back, I took a couple and saved the rest, three year later I took the last one the other day. Vicondin a little less so. Both even 10 hours later make me feel like my brain is wrapped in gauze. Oxy after two days make me stutter.......no freaking thanks.
The challenge for the fusion is that I cannot just tough it out. By all accounts, if I let the pain get too bad, I'll actually slow the healing and fusing process.