There is an ever-increasing amount of vital information being released about the dangers of opioid use and misuse, and with that potential patients are looking for alternatives. Fortunately, there is a natural, and non-pharmaceutical solution for patients with pain; chiropractic. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 80% of US Citizens that are currently using heroin, misused opioids first; the opioids being their gateway drug. Additionally, according to the National Library of Medicine, more than 60 million patients was taking at least 1 opioid filled and refilled in 2016 alone. These powerful pain medications are what has led to an ongoing opioid epidemic that is gripping the nation. Modern research shows that those who suffer from chronic pain are less likely to use opioids if they are utilizing chiropractic treatment for their pain.
Recent Chiropractic Research
Opioids vs. Chiropractic Treatment
Opioids have long been the main treatment option for those experiencing chronic or acute pain, but the risks have continuously showed in side effects and unnecessary fatalities. Fortunately, with the opioid crisis, the medical community has worked to research and provide proof of the benefits of non-pharmaceutical approaches for pain such as chiropractic treatment. Conventional doctors now more than ever are also recommending modalities such as chiropractic to mitigate a patient’s pain, especially everyday types of pain like headaches, neck pain, back pain, and musculoskeletal pain, and using opioids sparingly or ideally not at all. Chiropractic is one of the leading alternative treatments to opioids, and the research has spoken for itself in recent years.
Observational Retrospective Study of the Association of Initial Healthcare Provider for New-Onset Low Back Pain with Early and Long-Term Opioid Use, 2019:
- The goal of this study was, as the title indicates, to determine the relationship between the initial healthcare treatment with early and long-term opioid use. The study went utilized inpatient and outpatient claims from both pharmacy and patient visits with the initial providers being seen for low back pain.
- The study included 216,504 patients all 18 years of age or older having commercial and Medicare advantage insurance plans.
- The study concluded that “initial visits to chiropractors or physical therapists is associated with substantially decreased early and long-term use of opioids.” The study goes on to say that these results will encourage conservative providers to recommend chiropractic or PT to reduce risks of opioid use.
Impact of Chiropractic Care on Use of Prescription Opioids in Patients with Spinal Pain, 2020:
- The goal of this study was to determine the impact of chiropractic treatment on those who use prescription opioids for back pain. The study included 18-84-year-old patients that were seeing a PCP and chiropractor for back pain, and were separated into 2 groups; those who saw a chiropractor and their PCP and those who only saw their PCP.
- The study concluded that “patients with spinal pain who saw a chiropractor had half the risk of filling an opioid prescription.” Additionally, they saw an even greater reduction in risk of filling an opioid prescription who saw a chiropractor within 30 days of their diagnosis.
Association Between Chiropractic Care and Use of Prescription Opioids Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries with Spinal Pain, 2022:
- The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between using chiropractic treatment and the use of prescription opioids in older adults with back pain. This was an observational study which included a study sample of 55,949 Medicare beneficiaries with a back-pain diagnosis. Of these beneficiaries, 9,356 were treated with chiropractic, and the risk of filling a prescription opioid was measured 1 year after diagnosis.
- The study concluded that “the adjusted risk of filling an opioid prescription within 365 days of initial visit was 56% lower among recipients of chiropractic care as compared to non-recipients.”
Associations Between Early Chiropractic Care and Physical Therapy on Subsequent Opioid Use Among Persons with Low Back Pain in Arkansas, 2022:
- The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between short- and long-term opioid use with chiropractic care treatment of low back pain. This study used 40,929 patients that were an average of 41 years old, and most being women at 65%.
- The study concluded that chiropractic, not PT, showed a reduction in the odds of opioid use. This was shown particularly in chiropractic being beneficial in disrupting long term opioid use for those with newly diagnosed low back pain.
Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation and Likelihood of Tramadol Prescription in Adults with Radicular Low Back Pain, 2024:
- The goal of this study was to see if patients receiving chiropractic treatment are less likely to receive a tramadol prescription which is a less potent opioid. The study included adults aged 18 – 50 who were inexperienced with opioids and had a new diagnosis of radicular low back pain. These patients were divided into a chiropractic treatment group and a traditional medical care group.
- The study concluded that “US adults initially receiving CSM (chiropractic spinal manipulation) for radicular LBP (low back pain) had a reduced likelihood of receiving a tramadol prescription over 1-year follow-up.”
As evidenced by these research studies and more, chiropractic has been shown over and over again that it is a valuable resource in the modern healthcare landscape. Chiropractic is most certainly in modern healthcare a major part of the solution to fighting the opioid epidemic. Being one of the most catastrophic public health issues of our time, killing more than 130 people in the United States alone every day from prescription opioid overdoses. It is our duty as chiropractic providers to consistently not only educate potential patients on the benefits of chiropractic care for pain, but also to educate and communicate with conventional medicine providers to ultimately help patients achieve optimal health and prevent unnecessary deaths or complications.