She says that she has used fentanyl for 12 years and reduces the dose by 25% every winter. There is a difference between people using narcotics for chronic physical pain and those using it because of mental anguish. It's the latter who are always addicted and will need increasing doses.

I am not advocating fentanyl or other narcotics  for all kinds of chronic pain, but I think this woman is probably someone who is taking a constant dose that enables her to function.