He went to the dentist who prescribed it for some tooth pain. Now he is taking it long after his wisdom teeth were removed.
We are all supporting him because he recognized the problem immediately and enrolled himself at a treatment center. He slowly is recovering. When you suffer from any kind of substance abuse and recognize the problem then you have already made a huge stride. It is when you are in denial about it that makes it the most difficult.
Unfortunately this happens for many people who undergo some sort of medical procedure and it the tricky part is that it really is sort of a necessary evil. I had a friend who underwent surgery and he told me he was very cautious and even a bit afraid of starting to take painkillers because he know he could get hooked and I think that is one of the best defenses to have when it comes to these. Just be aware at the very least because if not you might only realize when it's too late.
Can't he sue the dentist? This is a big problem with painkillers prescribed easily, usually people get addicted to them. Do not simply try to talk him out of this, you should consult a specialist in order to learn how your brother can surpass the addiction.