answer:I (unfortunately) have insight on this matter from two different perspectives. As a 4th year pharmacy student, I can tell you how incredibly addictive these opiate analgesics (anything with oxycodone, hydrocodone, etc.) are… even to wonderful people, who you would never think of as “drug addicts.” Often, when seeking treatment for addiction, they prescribe Suboxone to “wean” abusers off of the drug (much like Methadone is used with heroin), but many people are skeptical of this, as it is now being abused, also. As someone who had a sibling in this situation, I know that there is really not much you can do for the person, until he WANTS help. As with any addiction, you really can’t force someone. My mother tried everything with my brother, for years… short of actually calling the police on him herself.. and it came close to that. He finally went to inpatient rehab (which is so booked with people waiting to get help with opiate-abuse, that it is unreal, and sad) and they put him on Suboxone. He was on it for over a year, which is longer than the recommended duration, and we think that he was still abusing opiates during this time. It wasn’t until he was in a serious accident, and hospitalized (immobile for weeks) that we think he actually got clean (solely because he could not get out to get any). I only tell you this saga to show how real, and how difficult this is to treat. The first step will be difficult though. Addiction does scary things to people – as obtaining the drug often becomes their sole purpose. Lying, stealing, making excuses… all things to look out for. I had to lock up my possessions in my own house, while I lived at home. Sweetest brother ever, but stole many things from me, including a lot of cash. So, I guess just try to talk to him about it. Sounds like he was innocently hooked, and I’m sure he doesn’t want it to progress any further. Try to get him into inpatient rehab, and hopefully into a program that has a method other than suboxone for treating this. It will take a lot of group counseling and support to get over the mental (habitual) portion of addiction. Best of luck – it’s a very difficult position to be in. Just remember that he isn’t really himself right now, and try to be patient, but firm with him when recommending that he get help to get his life back on track. No one WANTS to be addicted. Makes me sick, as someone going into this profession, how the medical professionals hand this out like candy, and hook innocent people.