National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa Presents Statistics That Show The Mental Health Of The Nation Is Declining.

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker writes about the dramatic and consistent rise in deaths of despair through every age group and calls for urgently needed attention to address the issues that give rise to despair.

ROCKVILLE, MD. May 27, 2021: Dr. John Rosa, dynamic speaker, national opioid crises expert, and co-author of The Recipe for Success with Jack Canfield, posted a new article on his website entitled, “More And More People Are Dying As A Result Of Diseases Of Despair,” in which Dr. Rosa highlights the fact that diseases of despair are ultimately mental health diseases .

Dr. Rosa writes, “As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, I invite you to take into consideration that diseases of despair are killing more and more Americans in every age group each year.” He goes on to add, “Drug overdoses, alcoholism and suicide are among the most common diseases of despair. Not only are more people dying from “diseases of despair”, the life expectancy of men is going down dramatically as a result. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2019, the life expectancy for American men “dropped for a third consecutive year.” They cited the “diseases of despair” as the reason for that increase.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/life-expectancy-for-american-men-drops-for-a-third-year/ 

“You may find the term ‘disease of despair’ unusual,” says Dr. Rosa adding, “but let’s take a closer look. For starters, despair is defined as “the feeling that there is no hope and that you can do nothing to improve a difficult or worrying situation.” According to some sources, the formal category of ‘disease of despair’ refers to people who don’t just feel down, but actively seek out medical care for suicidal thoughts and substance abuse. But,” he emphasizes, “not everyone who suffers seeks medical care.”

According to Dr. Rosa, “Without question, we have already seen that the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased feelings of despair throughout society.” He invites readers to, “bear this in mind as I review the results of a recent study in the peer-reviewed open access medical journal BMJ Open.” https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/10/e037679

“At the outset of the study in 2008,” Dr. Rosa states, “about 54% of the participants were diagnosed with an alcohol-related disorder, more than 44% were diagnosed with a substance-related disorder and more than 16% were diagnosed with suicidal thoughts/behaviors.” He adds, “Between 2009 and 2018, the rates of diagnoses of “diseases of despair” increased by 68%; the rate of alcohol-related diagnoses increased by 37%; substance related-diagnoses increased by 94%; and suicide-related diagnoses increased by 170%.”

Dr. Rosa provides many more statistics and in conclusion adds, “Let us keep the mental health of our nation uppermost in our minds as we continue our efforts to recover from the pandemic.”

Read the entire article at http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/more-and-more-people-are-dying-as-a-result-of-diseases-of-despair/

About John P. Rosa


Dr. John Rosa owns and supervises Accessible Beltway Clinics, which is comprised of 17 clinics in Maryland and Virginia that sees over 60,000 patient visits per year. ABC Clinics combine medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and behavioral medicine to give a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to pain syndromes and musculoskeletal disorders. Active in sports medicine with consulting/treating athletes in several universities, NBA, MLB, NHL and USA Olympic Basketball. Creator of 24/7 RnR an FDA approved analgesic cream; a proprietary blend of the most potent materials resulting in the most effective product on the market for pain Relief and aiding Recovery. Founder of Accessible Wellness Solutions – an onsite corporate wellness program offering consulting, lectures and management of onsite clinics.

Leader in Chiropractic  

Trustee of New York Chiropractic College for over 15 years serving final 3-year term as Chairman of the Board and given the honor or Board Emeritus post service. Awarded the highest recognitions in Chiropractic Medicine as Fellow of the American Chiropractic Colleges and Fellow of the International Chiropractic Colleges.

Integrative Medicine Specialist:

  • Current Vice Chair of the Board to Maryland University of Integrative Health
  • Consultant on Integrative Medicine to hospital cancer center
  • Reduced opioid prescriptions by 70% by integrating Chiropractic, physical therapy and behavioral medicine in a primary care setting
  • Expert/Speaker – Educating medical community on the Integrative Medicine approach to treating pain

Opioid Crisis Expert:

  • White House Surrogate
  • Law Enforcement Consultant (Homeland Security, CBP, DOJ, DEA and Postal)
  • State and National Consultant to Opioid Task Forces
  • Corporate and professional organization consultant
  • Best selling author

Community Leadership:

  • Board member of the National Italian American Foundation
  • Founder of “Overdose Free America” a nonprofit 501c which uses the power of celebrity and entertainment to bring the Opioid Crisis the visibility and support it deserves
  • Volunteer at Crossroads Freedom Center – a residential facility in Maryland to help overcome addiction

###

More And More People Are Dying As A Result Of Diseases Of Despair

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, I invite you to take into consideration that diseases of despair are killing more and more Americans in every age group each year. Drug overdoses, alcoholism and suicide are among the most common diseases of despair. Not only are more people dying from “diseases of despair”, the life expectancy of men is going down dramatically as a result. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2019, the life expectancy for American men “dropped for a third consecutive year.” They cited the “diseases of despair” as the reason for that increase. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/life-expectancy-for-american-men-drops-for-a-third-year/ 

Hopelessness Hurts

You may find the term ‘disease of despair’ unusual, but let’s take a closer look. For starters, despair is defined as “the feeling that there is no hope and that you can do nothing to improve a difficult or worrying situation.” According to some sources, the formal category of ‘disease of despair’ refers to people who don’t just feel down, but actively seek out medical care for suicidal thoughts and substance abuse. But not everyone who suffers seeks medical care.

Study Shows Great Leaps In Despair Throughout Every Age Group

Without question, we have already seen that the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased feelings of despair throughout society. Let’s bear this in mind as I review the results of a recent study in the peer-reviewed open access medical journal BMJ Open. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/10/e037679

At the outset of the study in 2008, about 54% of the participants were diagnosed with an alcohol-related disorder, more than 44% were diagnosed with a substance-related disorder and more than 16% were diagnosed with suicidal thoughts/behaviors. Between 2009 and 2018, the rates of diagnoses of “diseases of despair” increased by 68%; the rate of alcohol-related diagnoses increased by 37%; substance related-diagnoses increased by 94%; and suicide-related diagnoses increased by 170%.

The devastating results were seen in every age group. People who were between 55 and 74 years old saw the largest increase in alcohol and substance abuse diagnoses. Substance-related diagnoses in infants, from maternal drug abuse, increased by 114% across the study period. Suicide-related diagnoses increased by 287% among 1-to-17-year-olds, by 210% among those 18- to 34-year-old and 70% in everyone else.

Mental Health Is At The Root Of Diseases Of Despair

Way back in 2010, an article entitled Transforming the Nation’s Health: Next Steps in Mental Health Promotion, states, “The National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine have called for making the healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development of young people a national priority. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the US Department of Health and Human Services is uniquely positioned to help develop national mental health policies that promote mental health and prevent mental illnesses.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2978180/  Unfortunately, in the decade since this statement was written, there has been an increase in mental illnesses which means a decrease in our country’s mental health. We seem to be in a very precarious position especially coming out of a global pandemic. There are opportunities though to turn the tide, to help out young people learn to cope with the challenges life presents. According to the aforementioned article, “The majority of lifetime mental illnesses begin in young people. Half of all diagnosable lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and three fourths of all lifetime cases start by age 24.” Unfortunately long periods of time can elapse between the first onset of a mental illness and when help is sought. These are times when many people turn to drugs and alcohol for relief, not knowing that they are experiencing the effects of a mental illness.

Let us keep the mental health of our nation uppermost in our minds as we continue our efforts to recover from the pandemic. As a country, we have the capabilities to “equip young people with the skills, interests, assets, and health habits needed to live healthy, happy, and productive lives in caring relationships that strengthen the social fabric.” Even back in 2010, it was stated that, “This perspective must be the foundation of efforts not only to transform the delivery of behavioral health care in this country but also to alter the very concept of health itself. The stakes are high; as the World Health Organization notes, mental health is “central to building a healthy, inclusive, and productive society.” Today this statement is more urgent than ever.

National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa

Talks About His Recently Published Peer Reviewed Study That May Change Opioid Therapy.

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker writes about his peer reviewed study co-authored with Dr. Jeanmarie Burke which describes how opioid-therapy prescription rates changed after a family medicine practice included on-site chiropractic services. 

ROCKVILLE, MD. May 21, 2021: Dr. John Rosa, dynamic speaker, national opioid crises expert, and co-author of The Recipe for Success with Jack Canfield, posted a new blog on his website entitled, “Providing An Integrative Approach To Pain Treatment May Reduce Opioid Use,” in which Dr. Rosa encourages integrative medicine providers to make use of the study as a tool to curb opioid prescription and use.

Dr. Rosa states, “Treating pain with highly addictive drugs is not my idea of conscientious healthcare.” He continues, “As a chiropractor, I am a proponent of pill-free and non-surgical pain management. Integrating a traditional medical practice with chiropractic care is not yet widely accepted. However, strides are being made in that direction.”

“I have been working tirelessly to make this kind of teamwork more mainstream,” Dr. Rosa writes adding, “which is why I have been working together with Dr. Jeanmarie Burke writing, Changes in Opioid Therapy Use by an Interprofessional Primary Care Team: A Descriptive Study of Opioid Prescription Data, which was recently published in The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT).” He further explains, “The JMPT is an international and interdisciplinary journal dedicated to the advancement of conservative health care principles and practices. As the premier biomedical publication in the chiropractic profession, the JMPTpublishes peer-reviewed, research articles and the Journal’s editorial board includes leading researchers from around the world.”

Read the entire blog at http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/providing-an-integrative-approach-to-pain-treatment-may-reduce-opioid-use/

About John P. Rosa


Dr. John Rosa owns and supervises Accessible Beltway Clinics, which is comprised of 17 clinics in Maryland and Virginia that sees over 60,000 patient visits per year. ABC Clinics combine medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and behavioral medicine to give a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to pain syndromes and musculoskeletal disorders. Active in sports medicine with consulting/treating athletes in several universities, NBA, MLB, NHL and USA Olympic Basketball. Creator of 24/7 RnR an FDA approved analgesic cream; a proprietary blend of the most potent materials resulting in the most effective product on the market for pain Relief and aiding Recovery. Founder of Accessible Wellness Solutions – an onsite corporate wellness program offering consulting, lectures and management of onsite clinics.

Leader in Chiropractic  

Trustee of New York Chiropractic College for over 15 years serving final 3-year term as Chairman of the Board and given the honor or Board Emeritus post service. Awarded the highest recognitions in Chiropractic Medicine as Fellow of the American Chiropractic Colleges and Fellow of the International Chiropractic Colleges.

Integrative Medicine Specialist:

  • Current Vice Chair of the Board to Maryland University of Integrative Health
  • Consultant on Integrative Medicine to hospital cancer center
  • Reduced opioid prescriptions by 70% by integrating Chiropractic, physical therapy and behavioral medicine in a primary care setting
  • Expert/Speaker – Educating medical community on the Integrative Medicine approach to treating pain

Opioid Crisis Expert:

  • White House Surrogate
  • Law Enforcement Consultant (Homeland Security, CBP, DOJ, DEA and Postal)
  • State and National Consultant to Opioid Task Forces
  • Corporate and professional organization consultant
  • Best selling author

Community Leadership:

  • Board member of the National Italian American Foundation
  • Founder of “Overdose Free America” a nonprofit 501c which uses the power of celebrity and entertainment to bring the Opioid Crisis the visibility and support it deserves
  • Volunteer at Crossroads Freedom Center – a residential facility in Maryland to help overcome addiction

###

Providing An Integrative Approach To Pain Treatment May Reduce Opioid Use

Treating pain with highly addictive drugs is not my idea of conscientious healthcare. As a chiropractor, I am a proponent of pill-free and non-surgical pain management. Integrating a traditional medical practice with chiropractic care is not yet widely accepted. However, strides are being made in that direction.

I have been working tirelessly to make this kind of teamwork more mainstream, which is why I have been working together with Dr. Jeanmarie Burke writing, Changes in Opioid Therapy Use by an Interprofessional Primary Care Team: A Descriptive Study of Opioid Prescription Data, which was recently published in The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT). The JMPT is an international and interdisciplinary journal dedicated to the advancement of conservative health care principles and practices. As the premier biomedical publication in the chiropractic profession, the JMPT publishes peer-reviewed, research articles and the Journal’s editorial board includes leading researchers from around the world.

The purpose of this study was to describe changes in opioid-therapy prescription rates after a family medicine practice included on-site chiropractic services. I was fortunate to work with Dr. Julio Menocal, who had the foresight and understanding of the potential to introduce Chiropractic care directly into his practice.

The results of our study strongly indicate that including integrative medicine in the physical space of a primary care practice can be a positive step toward reducing and eliminating the need for opioids in pain management.  It is my hope that integrative medicine providers will use this study to encourage medical practices to team up with chiropractic services.

The following link provides access to the study:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161475421000129

National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker, And Author, Dr. John Rosa Reminds Readers That While Forgotten, The Opioid Epidemic Is Still Very Much Alive.

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author, and dynamic speaker attempts to return the focus of legislators and health agencies back to the opioid epidemic which has been lost in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet which experts confirm is deadlier than ever. 

ROCKVILLE, MD. April 28, 2021: Dr. John Rosa, dynamic speaker, national opioid crisis expert, and co-author of The Recipe for Success with Jack Canfield, posted a new blog on his website entitled, “The Opioid Epidemic Is Still Alive And Killing.”  Dr. Rosa explains that the pandemic has taken the focus away from and contributed to the worsening of the opioid epidemic.

Dr. Rosa writes, “With everyone’s attention in the U.S. fully turned for the past year and a half toward the pandemic and vaccines and what one can and cannot do, there is one issue that once was in the spotlight as well as the hearts and minds of legislators and public health agencies that have completely fallen off the radar.” He states, “I’m talking about the opioid epidemic.”

As Dr. Rosa points out, “With this thought front and center, I was not surprised to come across an article at Harvard.edu, in which Michael Barnett, assistant professor of health policy and management at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health talked about why 2020 is likely to be the deadliest year on record for opioid overdoses.” He continues, “He echoes my own thoughts when he says, “The pandemic is in many ways a perfect storm for anyone who is struggling with substance use disorder. People have lost their jobs. Social and family interactions have been limited. And the pandemic itself is depressing and anxiety provoking. These are all stimuli that can stress the psyche and the finances of someone who has an addiction. In some cases, it could push a person who was getting their addiction under control back toward substance use. In other cases, the pandemic might be the trigger that actually makes someone consider initiating drug use, which could end up becoming an addiction and being harmful.” https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/a-crisis-on-top-of-a-crisis-covid-19-and-the-opioid-epidemic/

Read the entire blog at http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/the-opioid-epidemic-is-still-alive-and-killing/

About John P. Rosa
Dr. John Rosa owns and supervises Accessible Beltway Clinics, which is comprised of 17 clinics in Maryland and Virginia that sees over 60,000 patient visits per year. ABC Clinics combine medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and behavioral medicine to give a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to pain syndromes and musculoskeletal disorders. Active in sports medicine with consulting/treating athletes in several universities, NBA, MLB, NHL and USA Olympic Basketball. Creator of 24/7 RnR an FDA approved analgesic cream; a proprietary blend of the most potent materials resulting in the most effective product on the market for pain Relief and aiding Recovery. Founder of Accessible Wellness Solutions – an onsite corporate wellness program offering consulting, lectures and management of onsite clinics.

Leader in Chiropractic  

Trustee of New York Chiropractic College for over 15 years serving final 3-year term as Chairman of the Board and given the honor or Board Emeritus post service. Awarded the highest recognitions in Chiropractic Medicine as Fellow of the American Chiropractic Colleges and Fellow of the International Chiropractic Colleges.

Integrative Medicine Specialist:

  • Current Vice Chair of the Board to Maryland University of Integrative Health
  • Consultant on Integrative Medicine to hospital cancer center
  • Reduced opioid prescriptions by 70% by integrating Chiropractic, physical therapy and behavioral medicine in a primary care setting
  • Expert/Speaker – Educating medical community on the Integrative Medicine approach to treating pain

Opioid Crisis Expert:

  • White House Surrogate
  • Law Enforcement Consultant (Homeland Security, CBP, DOJ, DEA and Postal)
  • State and National Consultant to Opioid Task Forces
  • Corporate and professional organization consultant
  • Best selling author

Community Leadership:

  • Board member of the National Italian American Foundation
  • Founder of “Overdose Free America” a nonprofit 501c that uses the power of celebrity and entertainment to bring the Opioid Crisis the visibility and support it deserves
  • Volunteer at Crossroads Freedom Center – a residential facility in Maryland to help overcome addiction

###

The Opioid Epidemic Is Still Alive And Killing

With everyone’s attention in the U.S. fully turned for the past year and a half toward the pandemic and vaccines and what one can and cannot do, there is one issue that once was in the spotlight as well as the hearts and minds of legislators and public health agencies that has completely fallen off the radar. I’m talking about the opioid epidemic.

With this thought front and center, I was not surprised to come across an article at Harvard.edu, in which Michael Barnett, assistant professor of health policy and management at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health talked about why 2020 is likely to be the deadliest year on record for opioid overdoses. He echoes my own thoughts when he says, “The pandemic is in many ways a perfect storm for anyone who is struggling with substance use disorder. People have lost their jobs. Social and family interactions have been limited. And the pandemic itself is depressing and anxiety provoking. These are all stimuli that can stress the psyche and the finances of someone who has an addiction. In some cases, it could push a person who was getting their addiction under control back toward substance use. In other cases, the pandemic might be the trigger that actually makes someone consider initiating drug use, which could end up becoming an addiction and being harmful.” https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/a-crisis-on-top-of-a-crisis-covid-19-and-the-opioid-epidemic/

We were making such good headway and had momentum building on the opioid crisis prior to COVID-19. Now, all the attention that has been taken away has many who have been focused on the opioid crisis feeling like we have to start from ground zero again. We have to remind people about the devastation being caused by opioids and convince them about the toll opioids are taking on millions of lives. The pandemic has increased anxiety in everyone. Mental health issues lead people to experiment with drugs to ease the tension. We must refocus our attention as healthcare providers on this deadly epidemic. Let me remind you in no uncertain terms that the death toll is rising every day.

National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa Encourages Parents And Healthcare Professionals To Be Alert To Symptoms Of Drug Use And Mental Illness In Children After Pandemic Is Over.

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author, and dynamic speaker alerts readers to the dangers that may await our youngest children who are living through the pandemic and unable to voice or understand their anxieties once it is long forgotten.

ROCKVILLE, MD. April 21, 2021: Dr. John Rosa, dynamic speaker, national opioid crisis expert, and co-author of The Recipe for Success with Jack Canfield, posted a new article on his website entitled, Today’s Young Ones May Exhibit Negative Effects Of Pandemic Years From Now.” Dr. Rosa is fully aware that once the pandemic comes to an end it may just be the beginning of a new set of problems for today’s children.

“In coming years,” Dr. Rosa writes, “the pandemic will be long forgotten, yet, it may have a profoundly negative effect on many children who are experiencing anxiety caused by the pandemic today.” He continues elaborating, “Fear is not something that many children know how to deal with. In fact, most people have a difficult time expressing, understanding, and eliminating the emotional feelings of fear in the physical body. This is one reason parents and those in health care must be hyper-vigilant to the signs that the pandemic may be having subtle emotional effects on the mental health of children.”

As Dr. Rosa points out, “Even during normal times, adolescence is when most mental illnesses begin to show up.” He adds, “According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 1 in 6 children in the U.S. aged 6 -17 experience a mental health disorder each year. Adolescents don’t understand their depression or anxiety, which makes it compelling to reach out for whatever makes them feel better. It’s safe to say that the fear of catching a deadly virus, which has made some children afraid to be around other people can be deeply anxiety provoking.”

According to Dr. Rosa, “Mental illness is very often a contributing factor to the tendency toward drug use. NAMI confirms that “substance use disorders, defined as the repeated misuse of alcohol and/or drugs, often occur simultaneously in individuals with mental illness, usually to cope with overwhelming symptoms.”  NAMI further notes that 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.” https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions

Dr. Rosa also states that, “To further complicate matters, very often the things that make them feel better are in the medicine and liquor cabinets in their own homes.”

Read the entire article at http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/todays-young-ones-may-exhibit-negative-effects-of-pandemic-years-from-now/

About John P. Rosa


Dr. John Rosa owns and supervises Accessible Beltway Clinics, which is comprised of 17 clinics in Maryland and Virginia that sees over 60,000 patient visits per year. ABC Clinics combine medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and behavioral medicine to give a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to pain syndromes and musculoskeletal disorders. Active in sports medicine with consulting/treating athletes in several universities, NBA, MLB, NHL and USA Olympic Basketball. Creator of 24/7 RnR an FDA approved analgesic cream; a proprietary blend of the most potent materials resulting in the most effective product on the market for pain Relief and aiding Recovery. Founder of Accessible Wellness Solutions – an onsite corporate wellness program offering consulting, lectures and management of onsite clinics.

Leader in Chiropractic  

Trustee of New York Chiropractic College for over 15 years serving final 3-year term as Chairman of the Board and given the honor or Board Emeritus post service. Awarded the highest recognitions in Chiropractic Medicine as Fellow of the American Chiropractic Colleges and Fellow of the International Chiropractic Colleges.

Integrative Medicine Specialist:

  • Current Vice Chair of the Board to Maryland University of Integrative Health
  • Consultant on Integrative Medicine to hospital cancer center
  • Reduced opioid prescriptions by 70% by integrating Chiropractic, physical therapy and behavioral medicine in a primary care setting
  • Expert/Speaker – Educating medical community on the Integrative Medicine approach to treating pain

Opioid Crisis Expert:

  • White House Surrogate
  • Law Enforcement Consultant (Homeland Security, CBP, DOJ, DEA and Postal)
  • State and National Consultant to Opioid Task Forces
  • Corporate and professional organization consultant
  • Best selling author

Community Leadership:

  • Board member of the National Italian American Foundation
  • Founder of “Overdose Free America” a nonprofit 501c which uses the power of celebrity and entertainment to bring the Opioid Crisis the visibility and support it deserves
  • Volunteer at Crossroads Freedom Center – a residential facility in Maryland to help overcome addiction

###

Today’s Young Ones May Exhibit Negative Effects Of Pandemic Years From Now

In coming years, the pandemic will be long forgotten, yet, it may have a profoundly negative effect on many children who are experiencing anxiety caused by the pandemic today. Fear is not something that many children know how to deal with. In fact, most people have a difficult time expressing, understanding and eliminating the emotional feelings of fear in the physical body. This is one reason parents and those in health care must be hyper-vigilant to the signs that the pandemic may be having subtle emotional effects on the mental health of children.

Psychological Effects Of Pandemic Are Likely To Be Seen In Some Of Today’s Children Long After The Pandemic Has Been Forgotten

Even during normal times, adolescence is when most mental illnesses begin to show up. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 1 in 6 children in the U.S. aged 6 -17 experience a mental health disorder each year. Adolescents don’t understand their depression or anxiety, which makes it compelling to reach out for whatever makes them feel better. It’s safe to say that the fear of catching a deadly virus, which has made some children afraid to be around other people can be deeply anxiety provoking.

Mental Illness Often Contributes To Drug Use

Mental illness is very often a contributing factor to the tendency toward drug use. NAMI confirms that “substance use disorders, defined as the repeated misuse of alcohol and/or drugs, often occur simultaneously in individuals with mental illness, usually to cope with overwhelming symptoms.”  NAMI further notes that 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions

To further complicate matters, very often the things that make them feel better are in the medicine and liquor cabinets in their own homes.

Be Alert For Common Symptoms Of Drug Use And Mental Illness

The fact is that substance use disorders and mental illness often go hand-in-hand. The combination of the two illnesses has its own term, according to NAMI. It is called dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorders. And either disorder can develop first. Some signs to be alert to in your child include, but are not limited to the following:

• Withdrawal from friends and family

• Sudden changes in behavior

• Engaging in risky behaviors

.

Early Prevention And Treatment May Help Prevent Later Opioid Use

One of the most important things you can do as parents if you notice any of the signs that your child may be using drugs or developing mental illness is to seek treatment right away. The reason being, according to a recent study published at JAMAnetwork.com, “childhood tobacco use and chronic depression may be associated with impaired reward system functioning, which may increase young adults’ vulnerability to opioid-associated euphoria. Preventing and treating early substance use and childhood mental illness may help prevent later opioid use.” https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2773983?guestAccessKey=b3324492-a593-4805-98c6-269a2c30e7b0&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jamapsyc&utm_term=4691924617&utm_campaign=partnership&linkId=115201871

Set An Example For Your Children

As parents, the best way to teach our children is by example. For instance, instead of teaching your children that there’s a pill for every pain, explore the use of other ways to manage pain. Chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, mindfulness and other modalities will steer children away from the belief that drugs are the answer to every problem. Once the brain’s reward system is broken it may be too late. I bring up the treatment of pain because it is only a matter of time until your child has a sports injury, car accident, tooth pulled or fall, and the ER or urgent care may prescribe an opioid for pain. With the underlying mental health issues described in this report, the last thing we should introduce is any opioid medication.

Early detection of potential issues is important. Especially in light of the past year and a half of heightened precautions and not knowing how much longer we will be living in a guarded state. Children are super vulnerable and sensitive. Let’s do everything we can to protect our children from suffering needlessly in the future as a result of conditions that exist today. Be vigilant and diligent in your children’s behavior.

National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa

Writes About The Phrase “Pseudo-Addiction” which he calls twisted terminology and explains by breaking down the origin of the phrase.

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker pursues the origin and meaning of the phrase “pseudo-addiction” and explains why he sees it as a rationale by pharmaceutical companies to fool the public into thinking they need more opioids to control their pain.

ROCKVILLE, MD. March 30, 2021: Dr. John Rosa, dynamic speaker, national opioid crisis expert, and co-author of The Recipe for Success with Jack Canfield, posted a new blog on his website entitled, “Pseudo-Addiction Sounds About As Plausible A Phrase As Fake News.”  Dr. Rosa explains how the term came about and how it became commonly used.

Dr. Rosa explains, “The term “pseudo-addiction” was coined back in 1989 by Dr. David Weissman and James Haddox, an employee of Purdue Pharma, to describe a case of “a 17-year-old male with leukemia, pneumonia, and chest wall pain.  The patient displayed behaviors (moaning, grimacing, increasing requests for analgesics) wrongly interpreted by the physicians and nurses as indicators of addiction, rather than of inadequately treated pain. The term pseudo-addiction is not a diagnosis, but rather a way to describe a phenomenon about the attitudes and motivation of clinicians in managing pain through our fears and misunderstanding of pain, pain treatment, and addiction.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2710565/

“As a chiropractor who has been treating patients with pain for decades,” Dr. Rosa writes, “I’m appalled that Purdue Pharma decided that clinicians’ “fears and misunderstanding of pain and pain treatment” required such nomenclature.” He goes on to add, “However, the term is more commonly applied to describe patients – not the attitudes of their clinicians – who would, according to pharmaceutical companies, be better served by being given more opioids.”

Dr. Rosa writes, “Let me break this down for you. Let’s start by examining the word itself.

The prefix pseudo- (from Greek ψευδής,  pseudes, “lying, false”) is used to mark something that superficially appears to be (or behaves like) one thing but is something else. Subject to context, pseudo may connote coincidence, imitation, intentional deception, or a combination thereof.”

Read the entire blog at http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/pseudo-addiction-sounds-about-as-plausible-a-phrase-as-fake-news/

About John P. Rosa
Dr. John Rosa owns and supervises Accessible Beltway Clinics, which is comprised of 17 clinics in Maryland and Virginia that sees over 60,000 patient visits per year. ABC Clinics combine medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and behavioral medicine to give a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to pain syndromes and musculoskeletal disorders. Active in sports medicine with consulting/treating athletes in several universities, NBA, MLB, NHL and USA Olympic Basketball. Creator of 24/7 RnR an FDA approved analgesic cream; a proprietary blend of the most potent materials resulting in the most effective product on the market for pain Relief and aiding Recovery. Founder of Accessible Wellness Solutions – an onsite corporate wellness program offering consulting, lectures and management of onsite clinics.

Leader in Chiropractic  

Trustee of New York Chiropractic College for over 15 years serving final 3-year term as Chairman of the Board and given the honor or Board Emeritus post service. Awarded the highest recognitions in Chiropractic Medicine as Fellow of the American Chiropractic Colleges and Fellow of the International Chiropractic Colleges.

Integrative Medicine Specialist:

  • Current Vice Chair of the Board to Maryland University of Integrative Health
  • Consultant on Integrative Medicine to hospital cancer center
  • Reduced opioid prescriptions by 70% by integrating Chiropractic, physical therapy and behavioral medicine in a primary care setting
  • Expert/Speaker – Educating medical community on the Integrative Medicine approach to treating pain

Opioid Crisis Expert:

  • White House Surrogate
  • Law Enforcement Consultant (Homeland Security, CBP, DOJ, DEA and Postal)
  • State and National Consultant to Opioid Task Forces
  • Corporate and professional organization consultant
  • Best selling author

Community Leadership:

  • Board member of the National Italian American Foundation
  • Founder of “Overdose Free America” a nonprofit 501c which uses the power of celebrity and entertainment to bring the Opioid Crisis the visibility and support it deserves
  • Volunteer at Crossroads Freedom Center – a residential facility in Maryland to help overcome addiction

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Pseudo-Addiction Sounds About As Plausible A Phrase As Fake News

The term “pseudo-addiction” was coined back in 1989 by Dr. David Weissman and James Haddox, an employee of Purdue Pharma, to describe a case of “a 17-year-old male with leukemia, pneumonia, and chest wall pain.  The patient displayed behaviors (moaning, grimacing, increasing requests for analgesics) wrongly interpreted by the physicians and nurses as indicators of addiction, rather than of inadequately treated pain. The term pseudo-addiction is not a diagnosis, but rather a way to describe a phenomenon about the attitudes and motivation of clinicians in managing pain through our fears and misunderstanding of pain, pain treatment, and addiction.”

Pseudoaddiction

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2710565/

As a chiropractor who has been treating patients with pain for decades, I’m appalled that Purdue Pharma decided that clinicians’ “fears and misunderstanding of pain and pain treatment” required such nomenclature. However, the term is more commonly applied to describe patients – not the attitudes of their clinicians – who would, according to pharmaceutical companies, be better served by being given more opioids.

Let me break this down for you. Let’s start by examining the word itself.

The prefix pseudo- (from Greek ψευδής, pseudes, “lying, false”) is used to mark something that superficially appears to be (or behaves like) one thing but is something else. Subject to context, pseudo may connote coincidence, imitation, intentional deception, or a combination thereof.

Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain. It is considered both a complex brain disorder and a mental illness.

Pseudo-addiction is a term coined in 1989 to describe the phenomenon of patients with pain being under-treated. The idea is that patients with legitimate pain that could be alleviated with opioid painkillers exhibit drug-seeking behavior that is misinterpreted as addiction.

So, if these patients are not addicted, they are clearly “dependent” on opioids. So, let’s look at the meaning of dependence. While addiction is classified as a disease, dependence is a state of being physically dependent on a certain substance. Addiction is rooted in your brain, but dependence occurs when your body as a whole becomes used to the effects of a drug and goes into withdrawal if you stop using that substance.

My question is this: how can anyone legitimately separate the “brain” from the “body as a whole”? How can one say that long-lasting changes in the brain are any different than when “the body as a whole becomes used to the effects of a drug and goes into withdrawal?”

Pseudo-addiction is a manufactured lie to confuse and rationalize the over-prescription of opioids. This is a subject I will be writing about again soon because it is such twisted terminology that is used to pull the wool over the eyes of the unsuspecting public.