Senate Health Committee Examines Safer, Alternative Pain Relief Options, F4CP Points to Non-Drug Chiropractic Approach

CARMICHAEL, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Foundation
for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), a not-for-profit organization
dedicated to raising awareness about the value of chiropractic care,
applauds the recent Senate health committee hearings which have begun to
address alternative care options that doctors, health departments, law
enforcement, families, and federal, state and local governments
can implement to more effectively treat the 1.9
million U.S. individuals suffering from prescription opioid abuse
and dependence. One key solution that merits significant attention
is the utilization of evidence-based, drug-free chiropractic care as a
primary approach to pain relief, mitigating the need for opioids.

“As the prescription drug epidemic continues to spread across the
nation, national leaders and industry professionals alike are taking a
stand to modify public perception of pain and traditional pain relief
modalities, and raise awareness about the health benefits of alternative
options, such as chiropractic care,” states Sherry McAllister, DC,
executive vice president, F4CP. “The first call-to-action for change is
increased education about the risks of prescription opioid abuse and
safer, non-pharmaceutical options, including chiropractic care which is
documented to yield improved clinical outcomes and high patient
satisfaction scores.”

According to the Institute of Medicine, pain is considered a major
public health challenge. More than two percent of U.S. adults report regular
use of prescription pain medications, over half of whom suffer from
chronic back pain. In fact, during the course of a one-year study,
researchers observed 26,014 back pain patients and found 61 percent
received a course of opioid therapy and 19 percent were long-term opioid
users. Doctors of chiropractic (DCs), who have a minimum of seven years
of higher education, including patient management, are specifically
trained to diagnose, evaluate and provide drug-free care and
rehabilitation to individuals suffering from acute and chronic
musculoskeletal pain, including back pain, as well as general health
concerns.

“While opioids are commonly prescribed for acute and subacute low back
pain, there is inconclusive evidence associated
with the effectiveness of opioids for pain management,” says Dr.
McAllister, who notes that past research
concludes patients have a greater reduction in pain with chiropractic
than with standard medical treatment. “It is critical that health care
providers thoroughly investigate the reason for the patients’ pain upon
the initial consultation and execute a safe and appropriate care plan to
ensure long-term relief.”

As mounting evidence continues to surface touting the benefits of
alternative care for pain relief, a number of reports, including, “Never
Only Opioids: The Imperative for Early Integration of
Non-Pharmacological Approaches and Practitioners in the Treatment of
Patients with Pain,” (PAINS Project Policy Brief: Fall 2014,
Issue 5), support the early utilization of drug-free care, including
chiropractic care, for pain relief. In 2015, the Joint Commission, which
certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the
U.S., including every major hospital, revised its pain
management standards to include chiropractic services.

For more information about chiropractic care or to find a doctor in your
area, visit: www.F4CP.org/findadoctor.

About Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress
aims to inform and educate the general public about the many benefits
associated with chiropractic care. To learn more about the Foundation,
please visit us on the web at www.f4cp.com and www.yes2chiropractic.org or
call 866-901-F4CP (3427).

Contacts

For Foundation for Chiropractic Progress
Megan Kivlehan,
201-641-1911 (14)
mkivlehan@cpronline.com