It's been my opinion that these shows have been trying to advocate a different system of care for drug addicts than is current in the US. It's not a vendetta against the pain patients. It's a plea that drug addicts in desperate need should have some other recourse than making explosive demands in the ER.
The guy was obviously- to you, me, and anyone in the medical profession- a drug addict. ER, at least, have always striven for accuracy in their show. Sometimes they flop a little with it, but it is pretty clear that they character they were portraying here was a drug addict.

I could be wrong. . . can I see a show of hands amongst the chronic pain patients here who have stormed an emergency room with a firearm?