If your doctor did not properly ween you off of addictive drugs then you should probably look into a malpractice suit. I was prescribed vicodin before as well and had no such trouble coming off of it. Sure it felt great when I was on it, but that was it.
Regardless, yes people with addictions need help. However there needs to be a more proactive deterrent to keep people from starting to use and I think there always needs to be a strict penalty of some kind for those who are an actual danger to themselves and/or society (repeat offenders and dealers).