Now, I never said how readily meds were distributed in the Alliance. Mediks in my pet future are a lot more careful with their patients than the ones in the present day. Or in this particular fiction, which is set closer to the here and now [clue: check the tags. "Mundane-matters" describes stories set close to reality as we know it]

If anyone needs meds to maintain anxiety levels or pain experience, they're closely monitored by the Medik who assigned such.

Addiction is treated as seriously as any other disorder of mind and body.