People usually need less medication to prevent breakthrough pain than to get rid of it once it occurs, so doctors recommend preventing it. These include medications that are primarily used to treat other disorders. Narcotics very rarely cause addiction in this setting. Addiction has repeatedly been shown not to be as much of an issue as many patients and physicians fear. In fact, pain commonly is undertreated due to the false belief that the patient may become addicted.
Addiction is the loss of control associated with taking a drug.
Behaviors that imply addiction include stealing drugs or money for drugs, lying to get them, and using drugs that are harmful to oneself. These are not the behaviors that cancer patients typically exhibit with regard to the medication necessary for their comfort. It is also important to make a distinction between addiction and tolerance. People taking medication may develop tolerance, meaning that they may need more of the medication to get the same effect. Provided that they are not engaging in dishonest behaviors to obtain the medication, and they are not harming themselves with it, this is not addiction.