Natural Awakenings Twin Cities September 2021

Three Ways to Improve
Pain Management and
Combat Opioid Misuse
in the U.S.
by Michele Maiers
The global pandemic has affected our lives in so many ways. One concerning trend
is that pain sufferers, who may rely on regular in-person care from healthcare
practitioners to manage their conditions, have instead had to modify or forego
treatment to accommodate pandemic restrictions. This, in addition to increased feelings
of isolation and depression, has driven an increase in substance use disorders.
According to provisional data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
more than 93,000 people died of a drug overdose in 2020 alone. This is a record
number for a 12-month period, skyrocketing nearly 30 percent from 2019.
Back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions are the most frequent cause of pain
for Americans and have been a leading cause for opioid prescriptions. In fact, the National
Institutes of Health states over half of the people using opioids report back pain.
This is especially concerning because the evidence suggests that opioids are not only
addictive but are also not effective for treating these conditions.
As the opioid epidemic is once again brought to light, researchers are calling for new
standard approaches to pain management. The reality is alternative treatments have been
available for decades and are now coming into greater focus as Americans face the crisis
head-on. Complementary and integrative healthcare (CIH) providers—including chiropractors,
acupuncturists and massage therapists—offer effective and safe treatment for pain.
CIH providers are heavily engaged in the healthcare delivery system to improve
patients’ lives and combat the opioid crisis from a variety of angles. Here are three ways
to improve pain management and combat the opioid crisis through integrative care:
Beginning with a non-pharmacological approach. Non-pharmacological treatments,
including exercise, chiropractic, acupuncture and massage therapy, are
1
now recommended as first-line treatments for pain in numerous best practice guidelines,
including from the American College of Physicians. Treating pain and related conditions
with non-pharmacological options first has the potential to reduce drug dependencies,
overdoses and deaths.
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For example, research shows that when
people with back pain receive care from
doctors of chiropractic, the likelihood of
patients filling a prescription for an opioid
analgesic is reduced by 55 percent. When
CIH professionals are prioritized over more
invasive treatments, patients benefit.
Increasing access to opioid alternatives,
especially for high-risk popu-
2
lations. Although safer alternatives to pain
management exist, many are left without
access to these services. Building integrative
pain management teams in hospitals and
clinics removes barriers to these services.
When CIH providers play a significant role
in the care team for post-surgery and pain
management cases, care coordination is enhanced,
and patients have expanded options
that meet their individual needs.
Over 21 million Americans have a
substance use disorder, and in the wake of
the pandemic, more people are struggling,
deemed at-risk for addiction or considered
vulnerable populations at higherthan-average
risk. Integrative care wraps
a team of healthcare professionals and
support services around patients, coordinating
individualized pain management
across providers and addiction specialists,
preventing relapse or increased risk of
exposure to opioids.
Supporting those suffering with
3 substance use disorders. Back
pain sufferers report higher rates of illicit
drug use, such as marijuana, cocaine,
methamphetamine and heroin, compared
to adults without back pain. For those with
a substance use disorder, many continue to
experience pain.
Increasing awareness and access to
non-drug pain treatment options may help
some initiate rehabilitation, support those
in rehabilitation and provide additional
measures to prevent relapse. CIH providers
are an important part of addiction
teams, taking a multi-modal approach to
addiction recovery and pain management.
Americans deserve access to adequate
pain management that is safe, effective
and non-addictive. Through policy
considerations for opioid misuse, financial
incentives to triage pain patients at risk
of opioid misuse toward CIH care, and
continuing medical education programs