The opioid crisis is here!

As a chiropractor, I am not licensed to prescribe medications. In my practice, I do not encourage the use of powerful medications for my patients, for several reasons. Prescription pain relievers, in particular, tend to:

* mask the symptoms, but not correct the underlying problems that cause the pain

* cause the patient to delay chiropractic treatment, potentially worsening the condition

* cause unwanted side effects, which can be dangerous

* lead to habitual use, overuse, and even addiction

It’s this last point that I’d like to address. Are you aware that over the last two decades, the abuse of highly addictive opioid painkillers in North Carolina has reached crisis level?  Since 1999, more than 13,000 in our state have died from unintentional overdose. In 2016, nearly 10 million opioid prescriptions were dispensed. Persons addicted to these drugs are also turning to heroin and fentanyl (a powerful synthetic drug more potent than morphine).

On March 7, a letter was issued by Gov. Roy Cooper and Mandy Cohen, the Secretary of the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services, urging all physicians to help fight the growing opioid crisis. You can read it here:  https://www.ncdhhs.gov/dhhs-secretary-mandy-cohen-seeks-help-clinicians-solve-opioid-crisis-north-carolina  Please do not be offended if I (or any doctor) ask you about your use of prescription painkillers. It is crucial for your health that we work together to treat the causes of your pain, and use only the medications that are necessary. Addiction can be a disease, which is chronic and treatable. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are headed down this path!

Remember, chiropractic care has always been, and always will be, drug-free.