Many of the negative outcomes associated with opioid addiction are directly related to the controlled status of these drugs.
Drug-seeking behavior, including lying about dependence and misrepresentation of pain levels, as well as the use of illicit alternatives such as street drugs or illegally accessed prescription alternatives, are fuelled by the ever-present threat of medical cutoff and withdrawal.
As for people who've developed psychological as well as physical dependence, the idea of broaching the problem with their GPs is a non-starter unless they're ready for a permanent mark on their provincial medical record and a lifetime ban of opiates except in emergency situations. 
I suspect that many people who'd like to get medical support for their predicament are frightened off the idea by what it ultimately means... that is, being officially branded as an addict.
The current setup virtually guarantees that large numbers of people who could use help are too scared to ask for it.