Our nationwide campaign is crucial in raising public awareness of the dangers of abusing prescription drugs for pain management & that chiropractic care is the preferred first-line drug-free approach to safely & effectively manage low back, neck & neuro-musculoskeletal pain. Opioid & drug overdose deaths are continuing to increase in the U.S. with 65,000 opioid deaths 2016. 80% of drug abusers begin the downward spiral with prescription painkillers, which are given by doctors who overprescribe.
From 1999 to 2015, 183,000 people have died in the U.S. from overdoses related to prescription opioids. Americans need to be educated that they have safer pain management options such as chiropractic care to effectively manage pain and improve their quality of life. Prescription opioid use and abuse can lead to addiction and catastrophic outcomes - 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.
What will elevate public awareness and utilization of chiropractic care as the optimal approach to pain management that averts opioid use and abuse. Our campaign will help save millions of lives - touching individuals, families and communities throughout the country.
Beginning in 2017, and annually thereafter, we will observe Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Month as recognized by the Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development (SHSMD) on the American Hospital Association official health care calendar. The impact of this annual campaign will be measured in lives saved from prescription opioid avoidance and more responsible physician opioid prescribing practices.
