Opioid overdose is a serious global problem.  The consequences are awful and include death.  In fact, opioid overdose is the leading cause of accidental death.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sites that “from 2000 to 2014 nearly half a million people died from drug overdose.  78 Americans die everyday from an opioid overdose.”

In the last few months, several bills have been introduced and passed by the Senate and House of Representatives related to this growing problem.  These are promising and positive steps being taken by our government to address the epidemic we are experiencing.  Chiropractic supports this legislation.  American Chiropractic Association (ACA) president, David Herd, DC, said, “Chiropractic physicians, for example, are well positioned to play a vital role in the conservative management of acute and chronic pain. They offer complementary and integrative strategies, as well as guidance on self care, that can provide needed relief for many who suffer from pain….Efforts must now be directed toward educating health care providers and the public about conservative forms of pain management that can be used as a first line of defense in treatment – and expanding access to those services.”

Chiropractic care is conservative care!  In this case conservative means non-invasive and very low risk.  Many people jump to complex and risky treatments, or very strong pain medications with severe side effects as their first treatment.  This is not research based.  The best thing to do for both your body and your pocketbook is to try conservative treatments first.  Chiropractic adjustments help almost every single patient that walks in my office door.  Some conditions take longer to heal than others, and occasionally I refer patients to other providers when they need additional help that I can’t provide, but that vast majority of my patients have a significant reduction in their pain.

If our country really and truly moves to a conservative care first paradigm, people would become less dependent on prescription pain medications.  There would be significant health care savings for families, insurance companies, and the government.  Our country would be healthier if chiropractic care was the first line of treatment.  I see amazing results with my patients everyday!