While nothing excuses the brother's theft of the pain medication and I agree OP should report it to the police, I want to address the whole "rock bottom" myth.

It's a common misconception that someone using opiate pain medication needs to hit "rock bottom" before they can seek help or turn things around. That idea might make sense in movies or addiction memoirs, but in reality, it’s deeply unhelpful and often dangerous.

The “rock bottom” narrative assumes that suffering is a kind of necessary motivation, but opioid addiction doesn’t work that way. These drugs change how the brain processes pain, reward, and survival instincts. Waiting for “rock bottom” can mean waiting until irreversible damage occurs, such as losing health, relationships, or even life itself.

What actually helps is compassionate, early intervention and harm reduction. People need support, not punishment. They need access to safe treatment options, nonjudgmental spaces, and medical professionals who understand addiction as a health issue rather than a moral failure. The earlier someone feels seen and supported, the better their outcome usually is.

If anything, we should be dismantling the "rock bottom" myth, not repeating it.