Hi Pat – Opioid drugs like Percocet can be addictive, however, people who take opioids for real pain issues rarely develop a true addiction.  What happens when anyone takes an opioid for an extended period of time is we become dependent on them.  There is a big difference between addiction and dependence.  I'd like to encourage you to read this article, which explains the differences: Opioids: Addiction vs. Dependence

Even with a dependence on opioids, though, if you want to quit taking them you'll have to taper off gradually or you will go through withdrawal.  A lot of chronic pain patients take opioids for many years to control their pain without any significant problems.  The important thing is to always take them exactly as prescribed by your doctor. 

However, if you are uncomfortable taking them and want to get off of them, talk with your doctor and ask him/her to help you taper off gradually.  I can't guarantee you won't have some withdrawal symptoms but it should be a lot less if you gradually reduce the dosage until you stop completely.  If you do have any withdrawal symptoms, your doctor can give you other types of medication to help minimize those symptoms.  Of course, you'll also need to talk to your doctor about other options for controlling your pain. 

I agree with you that whenever doctors give a patient opioids on a long-term basis, they should clearly explain addiction, dependence and tolerance so the patient knows what to expect and what their options are.  Unfortunately, most doctors receive very little training in how to treat chronic pain.  If you're not currently seeing a pain specialist, you might want to consider talking to one to see what other options there are to control your pain.

I wish you the best with this. – Karen