CDC Warns Against Opioid Use

Pain medications can often come with a long list of possible side effects ranging from manageable to severe. Recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent have focused in on the overuse of opioids for chronic pain. It's a serious matter, as at least 40 people in the U.S. die each day from an overdose of these strong drugs. The number of people on these drugs has quadrupled since 1999, fueling a crisis in side effects and misuse. In a new set of guidelines, the CDC is urging non-opioid therapy for the management of chronic pain along with the lowest possible effective dose when it can't be avoided. The side effects for these powerful drugs can include physical dependence, increased sensitivity to pain, confusion, depression, and many others. The American Chiropractic Association is encouraging patients to look at chiropractic therapy as a safer, alternative tool to opioids used to treat back, spinal and other soft tissue related pains. With virtually no side effects, alternative therapies can reduce or even eliminate the need for strong drugs.