[CaptainZapp]

I think the narrative would then become “rich and greedy big pharma gets rich selling legal narcotics to addicts”

Why would ?

Look up Purdue Pharma and their colleagues. Pay attention to the shenagigans they applied to get millions of Americans hooked.

Argueably the only difference between that lot and your average street dealer is that the street dealer doesn't buy himself a bunch of politicians.