More Responsible Marketing of Opioids Needed

(NewsUSA) - Sponsored News - An overmedicated society is in need of adjustment.

Last March the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shook up the medical world by encouraging doctors to utilize conservative care options prior to prescription painkiller treatment.

The move came in response to growing alarm over the most recent statistics, show an annual toll of 28,647 deaths involving the potentially addictive drugs. The United States makes up only 4.6 percent of the world's population, but consumes 80 percent of its opioids -- and 99 percent of the world's hydrocodone.

The most popular alternative approach, according to the Annals of Internal Medicine, is chiropractic care. And now the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, the voice of the chiropractic profession, is out with a new white paper ("Chiropractic: A Safer Strategy Than Opioids") that doesn't stop at merely calling on prescribers to strictly follow the guidelines. Among the Foundation's other recommendations:

* "More responsible marketing and physician education" on the part of pharmaceutical manufacturers.

* Ensuring that chiropractic care is covered by all government and commercial insurance plans.

* Expanding chiropractic services to more veterans and active duty military members experiencing pain.

"The United States has awakened to the crushing impact of the opioid use/abuse epidemic," says Sherry McAllister, DC, the Foundation's executive vice president. Doctors of chiropractic, who have a minimum seven years of higher education, provide non-pharmaceutical care and conservative pain management rehabilitation to sufferers of such neuro-musculoskeletal conditions as acute and chronic back, low back and neck pain, as well as headaches. Numerous studies have shown chiropractic care yields improved patient outcomes, higher satisfaction and lower costs.

Learn more at www.F4CP.com.