But it’s not "happening anyway", most people take drugs just fine without getting addicted. It’s when you are in a lousy situation and you take them regularly as an escape that you have a problem.
Most people may be fine, but considering that the CDC reported nearly 92,000 drug overdose deaths in 2020[0], I think there is a problem. Granted, it's a low percentage of the population, but that feels like the whole reducing people to statistics. The number seems to be growing, and anyways, you don't need to be on the immediate path to drug overdose for addiction to be an issue.
Overdose deaths are mainly caused by opiates, the surge is due to fentanyl. [0]
This is also due to other drugs being cut with fentanyl.
I'm not saying other drugs are otherwise harmless, far from it, but opiates are particularly sinister and addictive.
Most people know this, but many of those who seek out opiates are in a particularly lousy spot already where they don't care if it will ruin their life.
For other drugs that are used recreationally, the rate of addicts is comparable to that of alcohol users, if not lower.
I don't exempt alcohol as a drug. At best, drugs are helpful in moderation. Social media, literal drugs, whatever potential object of addiction are trouble. There's enough trouble with society already.
