There is always risk/benefit to all drugs. You have to decide if the risks are too much for you. If you are taking as prescribed or less often I wouldn't be too worried about addiction. It is when you run out before you can get a refill, that is the warning flag and is dangerous. Being conscientious and proactive is a very good thing

Using it to stop pain from getting worse is not a warning flag in my opinion. Why wait until you are in severe pain? I don't know if using it to help your depression is a bad thing. Is it really more dangerous than many psych meds? I don't know. It keeps serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain so a big concern is serotonin syndrome if you are also on psych meds.

This is something to talk to your doctor about. Honestly, I might not mention that you are taking less, that might get you a reduction in your prescription. That happened to me with a non-narcotic headache pill(Fiorocet) it worked out okay but added stress.

Do you have cravings for it?

I used to take Darvocet three times a day like clockwork for several years. To be honest, I would sometimes take 1.5 or 2 times the dosage at night just to feel something. I guess that is borderline abuse, but I was nowhere near the accepted maximum dosage of that drug. I fell off a cliff, due to severe depression and had to move home for about 6 months. After moving, I stopped darvocet cold turkey and had no withdrawal effects at all.

That wasn't a good thing, but it wasn't the end of the world and you are much more responsible than I was.