She is addicted to the drug.

There must be other medications which are not as addictive, that would give a sufficient level of pain control without the dependency and addiction.

Addiction is living for the sake of a thing, and then it is not possible to change the medication, because the patient acutely needs that medication or will go into withdrawal.

If I was a clinician, I would not want to use a solution which entrenches itself, and cannot be adapted, tweaked, or modified - except in increasing doses.

It would be preferable - to get perhaps 80% of the pain management - to a point the patient can function - and retain the control.

That's why I am more in support of medical marijuana and other softer alternatives in such circumstances where there is chronic use of the medication.