September is Drug Free Pain Management Awareness Month
Throughout the month of September, in observation of Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Month, the Tennessee Chiropractic Association (TCA) and Foundation for Chiropractic Education (F4CP) advises the public that there are non-pharmacologic options such as chiropractic care to address many patients’ spine and joint-related pain both safely and effectively.
“Drug addiction often begins with opioid prescriptions for pain,” says TCA Executive Director Tiffany Stevens. “In 2024, there were 4,418,587 opioid painkiller prescriptions in Tennessee. (Data Dashboard tn.gov) While the past several years have seen efforts to reduce these high numbers, there is still much work to be done to bring awareness to non-pharmaceutical pain treatments.”
As documented by the Gallup-Palmer Annual Report, 78 percent of Americans prefer to try other ways to address their physical pain before they take pain medication. Given the increased interest in providing Americans with drug-free pain management options, throughout the month the TCA, F4CP and other organizations will be sharing information on safe, cost-effective, drug-free care options to manage pain that do not come with the side-effect laden risks that over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription opioids carry.
UNDERSTANDING DRUG-FREE OPTIONS
One of the most effective drug-free approaches to manage back, neck, headache and other neuro-musculoskeletal pain is through a chiropractic spinal adjustment, which helps relieve pressure, reduce inflammation and improve nerve function.
American and international studies have shown that Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) offer a safe, conservative approach proven to produce improved outcomes, reduced costs and high levels of patient satisfaction.
- A recent study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine concludes that for adults receiving treatment for low back pain, the likelihood of filling a prescription for an opioid was 55 percent lower for those receiving chiropractic care than for adults not receiving chiropractic care.
- In a study published in the journal Spine, researchers showed that Medicare beneficiaries with chronic low back pain who chose spinal manipulation first were 2.5-times less likely to increase their healthcare utilization – such as hospitalizations and surgery – as compared to those who received opioids.
- A published study, in The Lancet (June 2023), documented opioids should not be recommended for acute low back or neck pain and
- the Bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO) published recommendations to manage low back pain initially with non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as spinal manipulation (chiropractic adjustments), while avoiding opioids, spinal injections and surgery.
Given these outcomes and others, the TCA urges DCs to serve their communities by sharing educational resources and to build greater chiropractic awareness at the grassroots level.
“Choosing natural, drug-free care to manage pain benefits every healthcare stakeholder, but none more than patients,” said Dr. Sherry McAllister, DC, president of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. “For this reason and many others, we call on our doctors to urge government officials, health insurers and employers to explore opportunities to expand access to chiropractic and other evidence-based, non-pharmacologic care, not only in September, but in every month, every year.”
About the Tennessee Chiropractic Association
The TCA is a dynamic advocate for chiropractic – driven to support all of Tennessee’s licensed physicians, their practices, and the patients they represent. As an association, the TCA works toward equal recognition and participation for chiropractic in government health care programs, in private insurance plans, and in all other health care arenas which impact the delivery of health care to the people of Tennessee.
TCA MEMBER BENEFIT
TCA Members may login to TNChiro.com for 2025 campaign resources to help spread awareness in their practices and communities.