You must be naive. Doctors prescribed this shit like candy, I remember getting prescribed it when I had my wisdom teeth extracted, appendix removed, etc. It was getting prescribed over abundantly for routine surgeries/pains (not sure if that's still the norm). I wouldn't take it, was fine with advil, but most people don't think about it and just take it as prescribed in these minor pain situations and they end up getting addicted. It happened to my brother. Addiction killed him, he fought it for years, but eventually succumbed. He was a very smart person, was not an addict by choice and fought valiantly. He didn't seek it out, but found himself in a situation where he was addicted to previously prescribed medication. Addiction is a lifelong battle and many lose.