You are aware of some people who function well with addiction so you assume that all addiction "isn't that big of a deal." BS. Go to a treatment facility and tell the patients (of all income levels) their opiate addiction "isn't that big of a deal."
I've meet many people (one an amputee, one great grandma in her 80) who have become addicted to their doctor prescribed medicine. All of which look like they have their lives together from the outside (and aren't having problems paying for their medicine) but their lives are being absolutely destroyed by opiates.
In the case of alcohol addiction there is even a word for this - "high-functioning alcoholic."
Just because you are able to function normally doesn't automatically make your addiction "not a problem" or doesn't mean it doesn't effect you in a negative way.
I'm not telling you that every addict is having their lives destroyed by addiction, but to assume that just because some don't means that all don't given enough income is preposterous.
"In your next professional interactions, look at everyone's pupils." No, thank you. I couldn't imagine wanting to do this.
I know professionals, drowning in whatever their work is. On behind or in debt. Opiates give them the optimism to face another day.
I'm honestly curious to know who is being destroyed by opiates, as in, what does destroyed mean? Outside of finances, legality, quality control, and other non-intrinsic, imposed issues.
Edit: If you'd like, my email's in my profile
I've met successful CEOs, VPs, and scientists that are addicted to opiates (Confirmed.) In your next professional interactions, look at everyone's pupils. You'll find some incredibly pinned. That's a pretty good sign.
Truth is things like OxyContin are often given to middle-upper class users and they suffer little downside (sex drive and constipation being the main things.) After you have enough income and supply the popular perception of addiction being a problem just disappears.