Hydrocodone problem in the united states?

hydrocodone aka lortab, vicodin... is a problem in the us today. im not down on anyone that has a problem with them... i'm addicted myself. but, do you older people remember peri-goric (spelling might be wrong)? our parents used it all the time and they gave it to us when we were kids. it is pretty much liquid opium. do you think that has anything to do with the opiate epidemic going on today???