If opioids are as addictive as they claim they are, why aren't we all addicts?

Because we don't have the genetic ability to be one: 

https://thomasklinemd.medium.com/opioid-addiction-is-it-rare-or-not-abaa3722714

"A 1982 study of 145 burn treatment centers representing 20,000 burn patients found after prolonged parental (injections) opiate treatment only 22 people became addicted (1). In 2010, the Cochrane Collaborative (a highly regarded reviewing agency in the UK) reviewed 26 long term opiate use studies and concluded: “serious adverse events, including iatrogenic (caused by the treatment) opioid addiction, were rare”(2). A recent study at Loyola showed only one person addicted out of 1100 cases given postoperative opiates (3)

A carefully designed epidemiological study studying occurrence rates of addiction was conducted by the respected epidemiologist Lee Robins at Washington University in 1977 She studied 700 soldiers returning from Vietnam on high dose, pure, I.V. heroin.(4) Expecting nearly 100% addiction, she was “surprised” to find though most had withdrawal symptoms confirming the habituation most all get taking medicinal or street opiates, or antidepressants for that matter. Why was she surprised — only 2% became addicted. Jim Mintz studied smaller cohort of Vietnam heroin users in 1979 at the Brentwood VA and replicated the findings of Robins. It is hard to generate any other explanation other than genetic triggering, odd as it may sound it explains the consistent failure of 100 years of government “substance control” failures.

Population statistics also support the rarity of addiction. The rate of addiction in 1915 when the Harrison Act was passed was 3/1000 or less than 1%. NIH figures nlshow a similar rate of addiction today of 4/1000 or less than 1%, unchanged in 100 years. Think about it. Why has it not increased on a per person basis in 100 yrs. (shhhhh, it’s genetic)

Neuroscience research at NIH, Montreal, Bonn, and Sydney to name a few, show consistent evidence that true addiction is a genetic mu opioid receptor polymorphism (variance) running strongly in families.

Opposing views such as the CDC Guidelines of March 15, 2016 and groups opposed to the notion of rarity of addiction (5) were jointly reviewed but they did not cite data to support their position, rendering the positions null.

The studies above as well as epidemiological data show that less than 1% of people will become addicted after exposure to opioids, including those with prolonged exposure to high dose IV heroin (4). Based on our experience, along with the experience of pain management physicians, once exposed to an opiate without addiction further exposure does not lead to Diamorphine addiction.

The length of time taken, the type of agent, the background of the individual matter not. No genes, no addiction, thus the rarity.

Using the confirmed government figure of 2 million people with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), even if a created government disease made up by SAMHSA still comes in at 1 %. — rare.

The low rate of addiction appears real and constant over time irrespective of opiate dosage equivalence. Given the rarity of addiction, 99% of the American population is currently being taken their prescription pain medications for no reason. This has created the worst health care disaster in modern times.

If you do not have the genetic propensity even IV Heroin will not addict you (Robbins study above)

The highly regarded brain researcher and Director of NIH Drug Abuse (NIDA) Nora Volkow, MD said in a 2016 New England Journal of Medicine article, “Unlike tolerance and physical dependence, addiction (opiate type) is a not a predictable result of opioid prescribing. Addiction occurs in only a small percentage of persons who are exposed to opioids — even among those with preexisting vulnerabilities” (6)

To answer the question, “can we stop opiate addiction with substance exposure control” — the answer is no. It is scientifically impossible. Yes you can reduce the other addictions with substance control and worth doing since the type 1 addictions are more dangerous crime wise.

We have been wrong for more than 100 years and thrown away 600 billion dollars trying to control opiate or Heroin type addiction due to ignorance of medical facts."