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Pain Needs A New Approach Not A Pill

By Dr. John Rosa

We are a society looking for solutions in a pill.

We want a pill to end our anxieties, to address every single ache and pain we feel in our bodies. And we want it now! We are a country that insists on instant gratification. That insistence has led us into one of the most dangerous epidemics in history. The opioid epidemic.

More than 120 people die every single day from opioid overdoses.

Some of these deaths are accidental and some are intentional. Many of those who die as a result of opioids are our young people. Pain relief does not come in pill form. There are so many other ways to address the pain that we humans are subject to.

An addiction to opioids starts out innocently enough. Perhaps you have to have a surgery and the doctor prescribes pain pills to help you through the healing phase. But then, you feel so good on the pain pills that you convince your doctor you are still in tremendous pain and he or she gives you another prescription. That’s one way the addiction begins. Another way especially among our children is when they go looking for pills in their parents’ medicine cabinet. They find unused pills and start taking them.

If the medical establishment were not so quick to reach for the prescription pad and would prescribe chiropractic, physical therapy, yoga, meditation and other non-pharmacological solutions, we could begin to eliminate the addiction.

I know that pain is difficult to bear, but we as a society must be stronger and tell our doctors we don’t want pain pills.

The pain won’t kill you, but the pill will. Ask for another solution. Ask for a prescription for chiropractic, yoga classes, massage. There is another way. It could save your life or the life of a child.

If you, or someone you love is dependent or addicted to opioid drugs, please seek help before it’s too late. If you would like to learn more about the Opioid Crisis as it relates to awareness, prevention and treatment or schedule a corporate or organization seminar contact us at DrJohnRosa.com. Here you will learn how to connect you, your company or organization with the leading experts on the crisis and how to help your community stay safe.

New Legislation Aims To Curb Opioid Crisis

By Dr. John Rosa

On Wednesday, October 24, I had the honor of being present at the signing into law of a sweeping legislative package that lawmakers and public health experts alike believe will help curb the growing opioid crisis in the United States. In addition, my work on the opioid crisis was recognized by the White House during the signing ceremony. I was also encouraged to continue my work by the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, James Carrol, Chair of the Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission, Governor Chris Christie and Counselor to the President, Kellyanne Conway. They each generously offered their help on a major new project I am currently working on.

Funding Makes Access To Treatment A Priority

It is good to know that the new legislative package directs funding to federal agencies and individual states to make greater access to addiction treatment a priority. In addition, the new legislation sets in place interventions to help mitigate the crisis, like preventing over-prescription and training law enforcement to intercept shipments, including the deadly and highly addictive drug fentanyl, at U.S. borders.

The number of people who died from an opioid overdose rose to 72,000 last year, a roughly 13 percent increase from the year before, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Non-Pharmacological Strategies Prevent Addiction

The work I am engaged in and promoting involves education in the use of non-pharmacological strategies to decrease pain, increase mobility, and limit the use of narcotic medications. This holistic approach includes such strategies as early intervention with good judicious integrative medicine. Integrative approaches include chiropractic care, acupuncture, diet/nutrition evaluation and behavioral therapies.

Other Efforts Coming Into Effect As A Result Of New Legislation

Based on models that have proven successful in private practice throughout the country, The Department of Health and Human Services will now oversee a grant program to expand the use of “comprehensive recovery centers.” The programs include job training, mental health services and housing alongside addiction treatment.

With the Department of Health and Human Services overseeing the new program, the National Institutes of Health will be freed up to more quickly pursue research projects related to non-addictive drugs for pain.

Addiction to opioids is devastating in the senior population because of over-prescribing. Fortunately, the new law makes changes to several Medicare and Medicaid regulations. It would expand Medicare coverage for opioid treatment, increase screenings for opioid use disorder and expand the use of tele-health services for the treatment of substance-use disorders. Medicare documentation would be required to educate patients about categories of alternative, non-opioid pain management treatments.

Decreasing The Decimation Of Our Young

As our communities are struggling to deal with the current pandemic of opioid prescriptions decimating our youth, it is imperative that health care providers develop strategies to decrease the prescriptions of narcotic medications while increasing a patient’s function and ability to return to a normal life. This new legislation is the beginning of a unified effort at addressing this problem. I am committed to continuing the work of providing education and holistic, non-pharmacological solutions.

America Is Hurting, Hooked And Needs Healing

Without question, this country is hooked on drugs.

Not just the lost, young souls. I’m talking about business executives, celebrities, people of wealth and position in society and their children. I’m talking about the average, honest, hard-working person who contributes to society and pays his and her taxes.

This addiction crisis didn’t begin as a result of curiosity and experimentation with drugs.

It began primarily as a result of some injury or surgery for which a doctor prescribed a pill to relieve pain. Innocently enough, yes, but then the doctors decided it was easier to prescribe a pill than it was to alleviate pain through other methods that may have taken longer but would have returned the patients to a state of true health. And, of course, the patients loved the euphoria of being pain free and having their minds altered. But, they didn’t realize their minds were being altered.

According to recent statistics, more than two million Americans have become dependent on or have abused prescription pain pills and street drugs.

These drugs are opioids. Opioids are drugs formulated to replicate the pain reducing properties of opium. They include both legal painkillers like morphine, oxycodone, or hydrocodone prescribed by doctors for acute or chronic pain, as well as illegal drugs like heroin or illicitly made fentanyl. The word “opioid” is derived from the word “opium.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), during 2016, there were more than 63,600 overdose deaths in the United States, including 42,249 that involved an opioid (66.4%). That’s an average of 115 opioid overdose deaths each day and there is more and more evidence that this number is under reported.