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THE OPIOID CRISIS IN MICHIGAN
(2018)
2,011
Michiganders died from drug and opioid-involved overdoses in.
78%
of drug overdose deaths in Michigan involved at least one opioid.
62.7
Michigan providers wrote 62.7 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons.
The Michigan Association of Chiropractors is here to help those with neck, back and muscle pain get relief with non-drug pain management.
Drug addiction has gotten worse in Michigan, covid is one of the culprits. The Michigan department of health and Michigan chiropractors have some unique approaches to solving the problem.
Sponsored by The Michigan Association of Chiropractors
WHAT ARE OPIOIDS?
Opioids are a class of prescription pain reliever that interacts with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the brain and body. In addition to pain relief, opioids can produce euphoria (a feeling of intense happiness) – this is why they are often misused. Misuse (using in a different way or a larger quantity than prescribed or taken without a prescription) can lead to addiction, overdose, and death. In addition, misuse of prescription opioids often leads to use of illegal street drugs, once the supply of prescription drugs is ended.
WHAT OPIOIDS ARE FOR:
Opioids are for patients with cancer, experiencing the highest level of pain, or for hospice patients experiencing end-of-life pain.
CAN OPIOIDS TREAT BACK PAIN?
In the 1990s and early 2000s, pharmaceutical companies (incorrectly) marketed opioids to prescribing physicians as nonaddictive and highly effective for all pain, including lower back pain. Even now, after all we know about the dangers of opioids, some physicians still prescribe them for neck, back and muscle pain, often with poor results, as many patients continue to report chronic pain and a decreased quality of life.
TREAT PAIN WITHOUT OPIOIDS
Opioids only mask symptoms, they do nothing to alleviate the problem causing the pain in the first place. Many leading health care agencies – including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S Food & Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Academy of Medicine, The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare, and the Veterans Affairs Health System – recommend conservative, drug- and surgery-free care like chiropractic as a first line of defense for patients with non-cancer-related pain. The fact is this: Opioids must be a last resort for the treatment of neck, back, and muscle pain.
WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC?
For 125 years, chiropractic care has focused on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems and the effects these systems have on general health. Chiropractic is THE choice for millions of patients who want safe and effective health care – without the use of surgery or drugs.
Chiropractors use natural methods to treat the biomechanics, structure, and function of the spine and its effects on the muscle and nervous systems. Chiropractic emphasizes the role played by the proper function of these systems in the preservation and restoration of health.
Chiropractors also concentrate on the factors involved in a patient’s overall health, including diet and proper nutrition, activity levels and rehabilitative exercises, other lifestyle choices, and much more.
Chiropractors use a hands-on technique known as the “chiropractic adjustment” to restore spinal and other joint mobility. This procedure is performed by manually applying a controlled force to joints that have either become too restricted in their movement or too mobile, as a result of a tissue injury. By realigning the affected vertebrae through a chiropractic adjustment, the chiropractor eliminates this nerve interference and proper bodily function is restored.
The goal of chiropractic care is to restore spinal movement and function, rather than masking the true cause of pain with opioids. Chiropractic care consists primarily of spinal adjustments and supportive care, which chiropractors personalize for each patient.
WHO SHOULD SEE A CHIROPRACTOR
Chiropractors treat patients of all ages, including seniors and children, with conditions such as osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, sprains and strains, postural issues, and a variety of other nonneuromusculoskeletal conditions, all without the use of surgery or drugs. They have been shown to have great success in treating on-the-job injuries, sports injuries, and injuries associated with auto accidents.
Chiropractic care is not just for patients with pain, however. Chiropractors – with their patient- centered, whole-person approach – are the ultimate wellness doctors. Regular chiropractic care can be a helpful tool in maintaining general health and well-being and increasing vitality.
