Chiropractic’s Unique Role in the Opioid Epidemic
While scanning my news feed this morning, a few alarming words caught my eye: “Opioids could kill nearly as many Americans in a decade as HIV/AIDS has killed since the epidemic began in the early 1980s.” Across America, people are talking about chiropractic as a safer alternative to opioid medication for pain relief, and, yet, I don’t think the magnitude of this opportunity has been realized by most doctors of chiropractic in this country. This crisis has weighed heavily on my mind for weeks, not only because of the potential to save lives in my community but because I know first-hand the effects of opioids on our bodies.
Someone I know and love suffered an injury from prescription opioids that forever changed her life. And it is not just my family that has been affected. While discussing the opioid epidemic during a team meeting, I quickly learned that everyone in my office knew someone whose life had been touched by opioid abuse. As a doctor of chiropractic and a board member for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, I have a vested interest in supporting their goal to reach every consumer in the U.S. with the message that chiropractic is a safer alternative to opioids. The F4CP’s goal is to educate and support consumers who are struggling with chronic pain. They promote conservative, drug-free care, specifically chiropractic, as a primary option for pain management, yielding improved clinical outcomes, reduced costs, and high levels of patient satisfaction.
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Safer Alternatives
To achieve this goal, we started the “In for 10” (#N410) campaign. Our goal is to raise money to promote awareness that chiropractic is a safer strategy than opioids. In medical school, doctors take an oath “to cause no harm,” and the weight of those words has them seeking information on non-pharmacological approaches to chronic pain. The CDC has recommended that providers begin prescribing safer alternatives, such as chiropractic care, for chronic pain management.
With your help, we can educate patients and medical providers across the country on the benefits of chiropractic care, save lives and stop opioid abuse. Providers and patients can text “N410 10” + their name to 56512 to donate $10 to the F4CP’s Opioid Awareness Campaign (For example, “N410 10 Ray Foxworth”). Those who donate will have the option to make a one-time $10.00 donation, or they may elect to give monthly or make larger donations. We encourage you to bring awareness in your own communities by telling your story of how your life or someone you love may have been affected by opioids. Share your videos online using the hashtag #N410. Challenge your colleagues to do the same.
As a profession, we all have different philosophies and techniques, but in the battle against the opioid epidemic, we can speak with one voice on the value of chiropractic. As a further commitment to this effort, ChiroHealthUSA has already donated $10,000 and will further match doctors’ donations to the N410 project, dollar for dollar, up to another $50,000. Take your cell phone out right now, and be a part of the N410 movement. Then share it on all your social media. The country and our patients need to hear this message.
About the Author
Dr. Ray Foxworth is a certified Medical Compliance Specialist and President of ChiroHealthUSA. A practicing Chiropractor, he remains “in the trenches” facing challenges with billing, coding, documentation, and compliance. He has served as president of the Mississippi Chiropractic Association, former Staff Chiropractor at the G.V. Sonny Montgomery VA Medical Center and is a Fellow of the International College of Chiropractic. You can contact Dr. Foxworth at 1-888-719-9990, info@chirohealthusa.com or visit the ChiroHealthUSA website at www.chirohealthusa.com. Join us for a free webinar that will give you all the details about how a DMPO can help you practice with more peace of mind. Go to www.chirohealthusa.com to register today.
