A man formerly addicted to prescription pain medication said it is "really, really simple" to get doctors and hospitals to overprescribe pills, the Des Moines Register reported March 1.

Joe Leonetti said that he would get drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin by going to clinics or emergency rooms and complaining about back pain or other ailments that are difficult to diagnose. Leonetti said that addicts would share information on how to get pills without arousing suspicion, such as avoiding asking for specific brands of narcotics. Users would sometimes pretend to go along with doctors' recommendations of non-narcotic medications or physical therapy. "Then, you just say it isn't working, and they'll give you something stronger," said Leonetti.

A health insurer once challenged Leonetti's multiple prescriptions and refused to pay, but never reported him to authorities.

Leonetti has been through treatment twice and said that many of his fellow patients were addicted to prescription medications. He is considering working as an addiction counselor once he completes his own treatment.

Leonetti endorsed the idea of establishing state registries for prescription pain medications so that doctors and pharmacists can check up on suspicious purchases and prescription requests. "I think it's going to do a lot of people a lot of good," Leonetti said.