U.S. President Donald Trump characterized the U.S. opioid epidemic as a national public health emergency during the week of October 26, 2017. He directed the executive government to use every appropriate emergency authority to fight the crisis. The opioid crisis continues to escalate as a global problem impacting countries all across the globe.

Some startling statistics were published in a September 2017 medical journal regarding opioid use in recent years:

• 91.8 million (37.8%) of American adults used prescription opioids in 2015
• 11.5 million of users (12.5%) misused their prescription opioids
• 1.9 million American adults currently have an opiate use disorder
• 63.4% of opioid users reported their opioid misuse began from a need to relieve physical pain

Nearly half of the adults in the United States suffer from chronic pain. Many drug users (and abusers) enter into the slippery slope of opioid use with honest intentions to simply find relief from pain. Chronic pain sufferers usually receive prescription drugs from a trusted medical professional. Officials in the medical community also produce studies and literature detailing the dangers of those same prescription drugs. Annals of Medicine conducted a 2017 study that determined opioids did not provide any sort of long term effectiveness for the treatment of pain. The same evidence found well-documented increases in harm associated with prescription opioid use.

The global opioid problem reached such epidemic proportions that President Trump issued an executive order and called for the creation of a task force charged with providing awareness and assistance in addressing the problem. A major contributing factor in the escalation of attention to opioid addiction stems from the rampant increase in newborn children born addicted to opioid drugs due to the mother’s usage. Research indicates that a new opioid-addicted infant comes into this world every 25 minutes. The cost for rehabilitating babies addicted to opioids estimates at roughly $150 billion annually.

Chiropractors play a vital role in the sensitive topic of opioid use and addiction. Chiropractic science proved over 120 years ago that a critical relationship exists between the nervous system and the pain-free function of the body. The optimal health and function of the spine and nervous system significantly reduces physical pain and the accompanying need for addictive drugs. Thousands of opioid users reduce or terminate their use of pharmaceutical drugs after seeking the safe and effective avenue of Chiropractic care.

A study from 2014 detailed the science and neurology behind why Chiropractic so effectively reduces pain while increasing body function. A special connection exists between the spine and brain. Natural movement takes place in the spine with nearly every daily activity. Subtle shifts in alignment contribute to the loss or restriction of spinal movement and alter feedback to specific areas of the brain. Even subtle misalignment in the nervous system triggers noxious nociception, better known as pain. A Chiropractor evaluates structural and functional movement characteristics in and along each vertebral segment to determine if the central nervous system is receiving proper neurological feedback. Chiropractors make specific, gentle adjustments to areas and segments that sit misaligned or out of position. The restoration of spinal movement and health results in less pain and improved function throughout the entire body.

Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation 2014 “The role of the descending inhibitory pail mechanism in musculoskeletal pain following high-velocity, low amplitude thrust manipulation: a review of the literature.”C Savva, G Giakas, M Efstathiou Annals of internal medicine September 2017 “Prescription Opioid Use, Misuse, and Use Disorders in U.S. Adults: 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.” B Han, WM Compton, C Blanco, E Crane, J Lee, CM Jones

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Stories of former athletes suffering with brain problems directly attributed to head trauma and multiple concussions arise every month. Documentaries and movies paint the vivid picture of exactly how these brain injuries occur and how they affect athletes, their families, and even their quality of life. Researchers who studied the brains of former athletes shared an unwelcome message about the consequences of repetitive head trauma. Scientists insisted that proper recovery protocol be put in place to protect the thoughts, memory, and emotions of individuals who suffer a concussion. 

Chiropractic plays a significant role in providing concussion relief and recovery without the use of powerful drugs. Jim McMahon starred as a quarterback in the Chicago Bears in the 1980s and began suffering with severe depression, migraines, fatigue, memory loss, and chronic fatigue after retiring from the NFL. McMahon’s story surfaced on ESPN and documented his dark days confined to a few rooms in his home after no longer being able to deal with most daily activities.

McMahon’s memory began deteriorating while his emotions became uncontrollable amidst constant migraines and extreme fatigue. His desire to live diminished hand in hand with his quality of life. McMahon’s desire for relief finally brought him to the right Chiropractors. He described his first adjustment as feeling like someone flushed the pressure and gunk that had been clogging his brain. McMahon continued receiving adjustments over the next few weeks and months and began to feel a return to normalcy.

Similar outcomes radiate from other brain trauma patients. Professional athletes make up a small percentage of people who deal with concussions. Nearly half a million children endure brain trauma annually and nearly four million people were diagnosed with a concussion in 2012. The fastest growing rate of concussion diagnosis involves middle school children. A 2014 study stated that all post-concussion patients should undergo a spine and posture exam following a traumatic brain incident. A 2015 study showed that traditional Chiropractic management of post-concussive syndrome patients resulted in rapid and sustained improvement in signs and symptoms that allowed athletes to return to full competition.

Chiropractors receive training to evaluate the health and condition of the spine, posture, and nervous system in patients who have experienced a concussion. Parents and athletes should be aware of some basic statistics linked to concussions:

• Women’s sports account for six of the ten sports most likely to generate concussions
• High school athletes experience more concussions than collegiate athletes
• A third of concussions occur in practice settings
• 70% of athletes attempt to play with a concussion and almost half do not tell a coach
• Concussions directly contribute to muscle and ligament damage in the head and neck

Concussions will continue to be a part of all contact sports and proactive instruction and recovery practices play an essential role in keeping athletics safe for all participants. People deserve a drug free solution that assists in relieving the suffering and progression of post-concussive patients. Chiropractic addresses some of the underlying causes that create post-concussion symptoms. Concussion recovery begins with Chiropractic care.

The Physician and Sports Medicine July 2015 “The Role of the Cervical spine in post-concussion syndrome..” CM Marshall, H Vernon, JJ Leddy, BA Baldwin