Chiropractors are actively working with the opioids crisis using an integrated approach within the public health domain. The following is an article from VCA (Virginia Chiropractic Association) about how chiropractic care can help decrease the long term affects of opioid abuse.
The Opioids Crisis
Purpose of this Page
Updated 3/28/17
The Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association (UVCA) realizes that there are many etiologies for acute and chronic pain. The UVCA also realizes that the "Opioid Crisis" that has plagued so many is a complex, multifaceted epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease
The Opioids Crisis
- Patients/Public
- »The Opioid Crisis
Purpose of this Page
- To provide information to patients, media, healthcare providers, employer groups and other organizations.
- To provide tools and resources to help Doctors of Chiropractic talk to their patients, community, employers, and other groups regarding the seriousness of the opioid crisis and how Chiropractors can help.
Updated 3/28/17
The Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association (UVCA) realizes that there are many etiologies for acute and chronic pain. The UVCA also realizes that the "Opioid Crisis" that has plagued so many is a complex, multifaceted epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2014, almost 2 million Americans abused or were dependent on prescription opioids. However, there is not a blanket solution to this epidemic because the factors that surround the prescription Opioid overuse and abuse are often complicated and complex in nature.
Many of these factors reach far beyond a mechanical, physical pain. However, for acute, subacute musculoskeletal and chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) syndromes, the UVCA supports a non-pharmacological or conservative approach as a first-line therapy towards resolution for the patient. In March 2016, The CDC's Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain was released. In the document, a recommendation for first-line non-pharmacological treatment was made. The CDC's recommendation is that "multimodal and multidisciplinary therapies (e.g., therapies that combine exercise and related therapies with psychologically based approaches) can help reduce pain and improve function more effectively than single modalities." The CDC is urging health care providers to reduce the use of opioids in favor of safe alternatives.
It is the opinion of the UVCA that Chiropractors are an effective deliverer of this type of "multimodal and multidisciplinary” care. It is also the opinion of the UVCA that Chiropractors can effectively and efficiently manage a great percentage of these cases to reasonable resolution for the patient. With low-risk outcomes and an opportunity for the patient to live with less pain, the UVCA urges the public to strongly consider utilization of Chiropractic as a viable option for acute, subacute musculoskeletal, and chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) syndromes.
Resources
Many of these factors reach far beyond a mechanical, physical pain. However, for acute, subacute musculoskeletal and chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) syndromes, the UVCA supports a non-pharmacological or conservative approach as a first-line therapy towards resolution for the patient. In March 2016, The CDC's Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain was released. In the document, a recommendation for first-line non-pharmacological treatment was made. The CDC's recommendation is that "multimodal and multidisciplinary therapies (e.g., therapies that combine exercise and related therapies with psychologically based approaches) can help reduce pain and improve function more effectively than single modalities." The CDC is urging health care providers to reduce the use of opioids in favor of safe alternatives.
It is the opinion of the UVCA that Chiropractors are an effective deliverer of this type of "multimodal and multidisciplinary” care. It is also the opinion of the UVCA that Chiropractors can effectively and efficiently manage a great percentage of these cases to reasonable resolution for the patient. With low-risk outcomes and an opportunity for the patient to live with less pain, the UVCA urges the public to strongly consider utilization of Chiropractic as a viable option for acute, subacute musculoskeletal, and chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) syndromes.
Resources
- Virginia Board of Medicine Creates New Opioid Prescription Guidelines: http://www.richmond.com/life/health/va-board-creates-new-opioid-prescription-guidelines/article_34ceace4-24f7-5125-9445-680f6f7bede4.html
- “The Cost of Prescription Painkillers” Video from The Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin: https://vimeo.com/187921433
- “Chiropractic: A Safer Solution to the Opioid Epidemic” Video from the Tennessee Chiropractic Association: http://www.tnchiro.com/videos/tennessee-chiropractic-association-chiropractic-a-safer-solution-to-the-opioid-epidemic/
- “Medical Journal Recommends Spinal Manipulation as a Primary Treatment for Low Back Pain” [Click Here]
- Clinical Compass (CCGPP):
o “Integration of Evidence Based Alternatives to Address the Opioid Crisis” - An editable PowerPoint Presentation for use by DCs to educate their patients. [Part I] [Part II]
o Variety of related papers: http://clinicalcompass.org/ccgpp/opioid-resources - The Ohio Governor’s Task Force: Acute Pain Infographic from Ohio State Chiropractic Association [Click Here]
- American Chiropractic Association: “Chiropractic and the Opioid Epidemic: Rethinking Our Approach to Pain” at http://www.acatoday.org/Patients-Why-Choose-Chiropractic-Chiropractic-and-the-Opioid-Epidemic
- Foundation for Chiropractic Progress: “F4CP Opioids Toolkit 1.0”
o Complete toolkit at http://www.f4cp.com/resources/tool-kit/F4CP_Opioids_1.0_Toolkit.pdf
o White paper “Chiropractic: A Safer Strategy than Opioids” at http://www.f4cp.com/f4cp_opioid_white_paper.pdf - CDC Releases Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0315-prescribing-opioids-guidelines.html
- From Unified VCA Supporting Supplier Member Kaizenovation Advisors, Created for The Chiropractic Summit:http://www.kaizenovationadvisers.com/blog/opioid-crisis-toolkit
- UVCA News Release RE Opioid Crisis 3-30-17
- Seniors’ Use of Opioids Underscores Need for Drug-Free Chiropractic Care, Advises Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association
- Association Between Utilization of Chiropractic Services for Treatment of Low-Back Pain and Use of Prescription Opioids
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