September is Drug Free Pain Management Awareness Month
September is National Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Month. As part of this observance in collaboration with the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) and other national organizations, members of the Tennessee Chiropractic Association (TCA) are helping raise public awareness of safe and effective conservative care alternatives, such as chiropractic care, that they may choose before resorting to riskier and more invasive treatments.
You might wonder why there is a need to raise national awareness about drug-free pain management when:
- for over 130 years, chiropractic care has been a first-choice, drug-free approach for patients seeking to safely and effectively relieve musculoskeletal pain,
- 78% of Americans prefer to try other ways of dealing with their chronic pain before filling a prescription according to the 2017 Gallup-Palmer College of Chiropractic annual report, and
- a growing number of trusted authorities, including the American College of Physicians, have called for drug- and surgery-free chiropractic care as a first line defense in fighting back pain.
The fact is that there is still more to do to educate and inform patients, employers, managed care organizations, state legislators and members of our communities.
Statistics underline the importance of Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness, showing that:
- more than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, with an estimated 80 percent of all Americans experiencing some form of back pain during their lifetime
- opioids were involved in 81,607 overdose deaths in 2022 (78.8% of all national drug overdose deaths), and approximately 64% of all drug overdose deaths in 2025, according to provisional data released by the federal government
- drug overdose is a leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with provisional data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating 69,973 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2025
This month also serves as a reminder of how chiropractic and other conservative, drug-free forms of health care play an important role in helping to ease the immense burden of pain management facing our state. Having access to numerous avenues for effective pain management beyond traditional prescription drugs, including safe and effective chiropractic care and other forms of conservative therapies, ensures that Tennesseans can explore a range of comprehensive and holistic approaches to alleviate pain and enhance their overall well-being.
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. Click here to find a doctor of chiropractic near you!
TCA MEMBER BENEFIT
TCA Members may login to TNChiro.com for campaign resources to help spread awareness in their practices and communities.