The nurse is caring for a cancer patient with ongoing pain from widespread metastasis to her bones. ...

The nurse is caring for a cancer patient with ongoing pain from widespread metastasis to her bones. The nurse notes that the patient's morphine dosage had to be increased to sufficiently manage her discomfort.
 
  What is the nurse's interpretation of this assessment finding?
  a.
  The patient became tolerant to the previous morphine dosage.
  b.
  The patient is becoming addicted to her pain medication.
  c.
  The patient has been abusing her prescribed pain medications.
  d.
  The patient is seeking to end her life with an overdose of morphine.