Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor

Chiropractic group lauds campaign on opioid overdose prevention

By Business Wire   

News

Oct. 30, 2014 – The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the value of chiropractic care, calls attention to information published online by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), spotlighting the lethal epidemic of opioid painkiller prescribing and importance of appropriate preventive action by federal and state bodies.

Included in the CDC online information are several methods to prevent
overprescribing and increase patients’ accessibility to effective,
drug-free treatment options, such as chiropractic care, for pain relief.

“Higher
rates of prescribing mean more drug-related fatalities,” said Dr.
Gerard Clum, spokesperson, F4CP. “In 2012, U.S. medical providers
approved 259 million painkiller prescriptions, translating into 46
deaths per day. As alarming as these numbers are, they will continue to
climb until our nation stops turning to prescription painkillers as the
first choice for pain relief.”

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Municipalities across the nation
are taking notice of the latest risk reports related to prescription
drugs and positioning themselves on the opposite side of the epidemic.
Recently, two counties in California sued five of the world’s largest
narcotics manufacturers with accusations of creating the nation’s drug
crisis through a “campaign of deception” aimed at boosting sales of
potent painkillers, such as OxyContin.

“The pro-active actions of
California counties and the CDC symbolize a step in the right
direction,” said Clum. “However, to spark real change, more influencers
need to take similar measures toward ending this toxic epidemic and
igniting universal acceptance of conservative methods, such as
chiropractic, as a first choice for pain relief.”

Chiropractic
care is an evidence-based, drug-free approach for common health concerns
and pain relief. Evidence confirms that the care provided by a doctor
of chiropractic is often linked with better clinical outcomes, greater
patient satisfaction and noteworthy cost savings, said the F4CP.

A
plethora of reports, including, “Never Only Opioids: The Imperative for
Early Integration of Non-Pharmacological Approaches and Practitioners
in the Treatment of Patients with Pain,”
support the early use of
drug-free care for pain relief.

“Protecting
ourselves against this ill-fated epidemic needs to be a primary focus,”
said Clum. “The first step is increased awareness about treatment risks
and better, drug-free options and the second step is action: using
drug-free options, such as chiropractic care, first. I expect the
transition away from prescription drugs will be tough, but the lives
saved along the way will make it worthwhile.”


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