Dr. John Rosa and We’re All a Little “Crazy” Podcast

An image for the We're All a Little "Crazy" podcast; a rainbow thumbs up against a green background with "#samehere" on top.

I’m proud to be Chair of the Board of Same Here Global; an incredible nonprofit dedicated to normalizing the conversation around mental health and addiction. This is our podcast which I highly recommend and this week I added my 2 cents. Enjoy and share!

This Episode’s Description, from We’re All a Little “Crazy”:

“Calvin Ridley, drafted by the Falcons in the first round in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Alabama had an incredibly promising start to his career. However in October of 2021 he chose to take a leave of absence from the game he loves, for mental health reasons. Later in 2022, the NFL announced Ridley would be suspended for betting on his team – in a parlay – on a popular phone betting app. The incident came well after his leave of absence for mental health, when he describes the dark space he was in, but that didn’t stop the media and fans from chastising him, claiming he “used mental health” as an excuse to try to wash over his “gambling habits.” This week, over a year later, Ridley published a piece in The Players’ Tribune, to talk about his traumatic past, the therapy he’s been through, and to try to explain why he’d even press the button to bet on his own game & team. The background gave Theo & Eric a chance to talk with addiction expert, Surrogate to the White House, Dr. John Rosa about the brain’s reward system, and why we often cope with emotional pain in maladaptive ways – even when it’s momentary. Theo dove into his own problem gambling to compare his situation to Ridley’s. Darren was in SXSW for this episode but his role as a reporter in the space of sports gambling was referenced often.”

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 https://drjohnrosa.com/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

###

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.”

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.

Keeping People Sick And In Pain Is A Multi-Trillion Dollar Business

By Dr. John Rosa

Our so-called “health system” is actually a misnomer. In fact, the mainstream medical industry is alive, well, and thriving by keeping people sick and in pain. Let me paint the picture for you by starting with a few well-known facts.

First, in 2017, global expenditures for healthcare exceeded $7.8 trillion, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Secondly, you are probably very aware that there are people in this world who are willing to kill other human beings whether during a robbery among strangers or very often a spouse, ‘friend’, or relative for a few dollars. So, it doesn’t take a leap of imagination to conclude that there are many people who will do anything, especially when they never have to come face-to-face with their victims, for a big piece of a multi-trillion-dollar pie. You may be able to more clearly understand now that keeping people healthy is not quite as lucrative as keeping them unhealthy.

 

Suppression Versus Progression

Now, let me present a little history for you from an article at PainTreatment.com. Way back when – I’m talking the 1600’s – the Salem Witch Trials were the first effort at suppressing health practices in the U.S. It’s a fairly well-known and documented fact, which is stated in a recent article I came across in Alternative Pain Treatment Directory, that, “The women who were tried and executed were herbalists who were accused of practicing “the Devil’s magic.” https://www.paintreatmentdirectory.com/posts/suppression-of-alternative-medicine-is-killing-us

A couple of hundred years later, homeopathy was developed in Germany. As the aforementioned article explains, “Homeopathy is based on extreme dilutions of natural substances that trigger the body’s healing response and it became wildly popular because it worked and because it was so much gentler than common treatments of the time, which included bloodletting, chloroform, and mercury. Homeopathy proved much more effective than conventional treatment during the cholera epidemics of 1832 and 1849. By the end of the 19th century, there were 44 homeopathic medical schools and more than 100 homeopath-supervised hospitals in the U.S. In the deadly flu epidemic of 1918, 25-50 million people died, while deaths of people treated with homeopathy were rare.” https://www.paintreatmentdirectory.com/posts/suppression-of-alternative-medicine-is-killing-us

Another fact the article reveals is that, “homeopaths created the first medical association in the U.S. back in 1844. However, once the American Medical Association (AMA) was created three years later, the article points out that, “one of its first actions was to ban homeopaths from becoming members and expelling any members who dared to even consult with a homeopath. In 1910, the Flexner Report, commissioned by the Carnegie Foundation and supported by the Rockefeller family, resulted in standardizing the practice of medicine in a way that virtually eliminated homeopathic medicine. All the homeopathic hospitals and medical schools were forced to close.”

https://www.paintreatmentdirectory.com/posts/suppression-of-alternative-medicine-is-killing-us

The story continues. “After homeopathy was effectively squelched, the AMA came after chiropractors. The chiropractic profession was founded in the United States in 1895. During the first half of the twentieth century, with the active encouragement of the AMA, many chiropractors were prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license and many went to jail. The AMA founded the Committee on Quackery in 1963. The committee had the avowed goal of creating a health care monopoly that would eliminate the chiropractic profession. Because chiropractic made little use of technology and no use of drugs, the profession had no strong financial allies. Meanwhile, the AMA had access to the deep pockets of the pharmaceutical industry to further its goals. AMA members faced expulsion from the association not only for referring to chiropractors but even for belonging to the same country club or church or synagogue—association was strictly prohibited. As a result, chiropractors faced discrimination in not only their professional life but also their personal life.” https://www.paintreatmentdirectory.com/posts/suppression-of-alternative-medicine-is-killing-us

In 1976, five chiropractors sued the AMA for libel. The suit also included as codefendants the American Hospital Association, the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Physicians, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals. Eleven years later, a federal appellate court judge ruled that the AMA had engaged in a “lengthy, systematic, successful, and unlawful boycott” designed to restrict cooperation between MDs and chiropractors to eliminate the chiropractic profession as a competitor in the US health care system. In recent years, continued misinformation campaigns and insurance coverage restrictions (including fees that have not increased in four decades, visit limitations, and unreasonable paperwork demands), continue to undermine the practice of chiropractic. https://www.paintreatmentdirectory.com/posts/suppression-of-alternative-medicine-is-killing-us

I recommend reading the entire article if you’re interested in learning more about the suppression of alternative health care options and more effective ways of healing people throughout the ages. It goes into much more depth about cancer treatment as well. In the meantime, if you really desire health without taking drugs or undergoing surgeries, look into more alternative forms of healing.

National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa Talks About The Effect A New Wave Of COVID-19 Will Have On Mental Health.

Dr. John P. Rosa, national opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker, writes about the wave of mental health issues that has been building throughout the pandemic and how it is likely to cost even more lives during the upcoming stressful holiday season.

ROCKVILLE, MD. November 2, 2020: Owner of Accessible Beltway Clinics and opioid crises expert, Dr. John Rosa, posted a new blog on his website entitled, The Holidays, The Winter Wave Of COVID-19, And A Wave Of Mental Health Issues, in which Dr. Rosa reminds readers that everyone is under more duress than ever going into the holiday season.

Dr. John P. RosaDr. Rosa writes, “I have been anticipating the wave of mental health issues that is growing and looming larger every day.” He continues, “I know, that as this article states, “It’s comforting to think that with precautions like physical distancing, proper masking and — hopefully — a future vaccine, the COVID-19 curve will flatten and, someday, end.” The article also points out that, “However, it’s essential to acknowledge that a second curve, the COVID mental health crisis curve, is already forming. That, too, will cost lives if we don’t make concerted efforts to treat it.”
https://talkbusiness.net/2020/09/covids-second-curve-protecting-our-mental-health/

“With the holidays coming,” Dr. Rosa says, adding, “which are already particularly stressful for many people, and the winter wave of COVID-19 already starting to take its toll, we must steel ourselves to follow protocols more strictly despite the stress.” He emphasizes, “We must all find ways to soothe ourselves for the long-term. We must weigh the real risks involved in going home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Hannukah.” He asks, “Is it really worth the added stress to put your elder relatives at risk?” He goes on to say, “If we all play it safe, maybe next holiday season we can return to the closeness of shared meals with loved ones we haven’t seen in a long time.”

 

 

Read the entire blog at https://drjohnrosa.com/the-holidays-the-winter-wave-of-covid-19-and-a-wave-of-mental-health-issues/

 

 

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

 

###

 

The Holidays, The Winter Wave Of COVID-19, And A Wave Of Mental Health Issues

By Dr. John Rosa

I have been anticipating the wave of mental health issues that are growing and looming larger every day. I know, that as this article states, “It’s comforting to think that with precautions like physical distancing, proper masking and — hopefully — a future vaccine, the COVID-19 curve will flatten and, someday, end. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that a second curve, the COVID mental health crisis curve, is already forming. That, too, will cost lives if we don’t make concerted efforts to treat it.”
https://talkbusiness.net/2020/09/covids-second-curve-protecting-our-mental-health/

With the holidays coming, which are already particularly stressful for many people, and the winter wave of COVID-19 already starting to take its toll, we must steel ourselves to follow protocols more strictly despite the stress. We must all find ways to soothe ourselves for the long-term. We must weigh the real risks involved in going home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Hannukah. Is it really worth the added stress to put your elder relatives at risk? If we all play it safe, maybe next holiday season we can return to the closeness of shared meals with loved ones we haven’t seen in a long time.

Everyone is under pressure now. This is the kind of emotional stress that leads to excessive drinking and experimentation with drugs. The stress on those who are in recovery from drug and/or alcohol use may become unbearable. If you or a loved one is in this group, please do whatever you can to support them and protect yourself during this stressful time.

The warnings are everywhere. According to one article, “COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are increasing again with no sign of stopping, sparking fears that the fall and winter wave experts had warned about all year is already here. Over the past week, according to The New York Times COVID-19 tracker, the U.S. has confirmed an average of 54,000 new cases per day, a 25 percent increase compared to two weeks ago. The surge cannot solely be explained by an increase in testing. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/521414-as-coronavirus-cases-surge-in-the-us-experts-warn-the-third-wave-has

Be safe. Follow the established protocols. Find soothing activities to help you get through this. The digital age makes everything available online from yoga to meditation and spiritual services of every denomination. Gift yourself and loved ones with chiropractic and massage appointments this year. Strengthening your mental and emotional health can also strengthen your physical health.

National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa Talks About The Impending Mental Health Crisis Coming As A Result Of Covid-19. 

opioid crisis

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker writes about the effects of long-term stress on mental health increasing the risk for self-harm, suicide and substance abuse. 

ROCKVILLE, MD. October 21, 2020: 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, No One Is Immune To The Growing COVID-19 Mental Health Crisis.”  Dr. Rosa elaborates on the long-term effects of chronic stress and offers tips for self-care.

 As Dr. Rosa points out, “The fear of getting the virus is stressful enough. Add to that the disruption in lifestyle, the social distancing, the inability to travel freely, the quarantining, the mandate to wear masks in public, the inability to go to the office, the unemployment, the financial stress. I could go on,” he says, “but I think you get the point. All of these things add up to tremendous emotional and mental stress.”“A COVID-19-related mental health crisis is building like a tsunami wave,” writes Dr. Rosa, adding, “and it’s going to cost even more lives as it continues to grow.” “Let’s face it,” he says, “life is stressful. Everyone experiences stressful periods. However, when stress lasts for extended periods of time, the effects on mental health can be devastating.” He emphasizes, “The world has been living with the presence of COVID-19 for nearly one year. That’s a long time to live under duress.”

Dr. Rosa writes, “A recent time.com article speaks to the growing concern around this issue. The article states, “While the physical symptoms caused by the virus may disappear in weeks, people will continue to suffer the impact of grief, anxiety and depression for months or even years. In addition to healthcare workers, those most at risk are older people, adolescents, people with pre-existing mental health conditions and those already caught up in conflict and crisis.” “https://time.com/5839553/un-action-mental-health-crisis/

According to Dr. Rosa, “Men and women in recovery from opioid use and abuse are especially vulnerable. Here in the states, as well as in other parts of the world, COVID-19 has led to cuts in mental health services and the closure of many facilities.”

 

Read the entire article at https://drjohnrosa.com/no-one-is-immune-to-the-growing-covid-19-mental-health-crisis/ 

 

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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National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa Shares Results Of Recent Study Revealing That Chiropractic Care Can Prevent Suicide.

opioid crisis

Dr. John P. Rosa, national opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker share the compelling results of a recent study showing that nonpharmacological treatments, which included chiropractic treatments, significantly lowered the risk of suicide and other adverse conditions.

 ROCKVILLE, MD. August 26, 2020: Owner of Accessible Beltway Clinics and opioid crises expert, Dr. John Rosa, posted a new blog on his website entitled, Chiropractic Treatment Plays Important Role In Suicide Prevention, in which Dr. Rosa encourages anyone in chronic pain to keep their chiropractor’s phone number handy.

Dr. Rosa states, “Suicide prevention is just one more among a long list of benefits chiropractic care provides.” He continues adding, “This news has been recently revealed based on research conducted among U.S. Army service members returning from deployment. The motivation for the study was based on the fact that suicide among our returned service men and women has been going up steadily. For instance, between 2001 and 2014, studies show that “U.S. adult civilian suicides increased 23%, while Veteran suicides increased 32%.””

According to Dr. Rosa, “The authors of the study compared 142,539 U.S. Army service members with chronic pain who received nonpharmacological treatments (NPT) with those who did not in order to see if there was a reduction in long-term pain related adverse outcomes. Almost 25% of the participants received chiropractic care, while physical therapy was conducted on 32% of the participants.”

 

Read the entire blog at https://drjohnrosa.com/chiropractic-treatment-plays-important-role-in-suicide-prevention/

 

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

 

###

National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa Reveals That His Greatest Concern About The Opioid Epidemic Has Come About.

By Dr. John Rosa

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker talks about how the COVID-19 crisis has singlehandedly caused a devastating setback in the progress made in the opioid crisis.

ROCKVILLE, MD. August 19, 2020: 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, What Did The Opioid Epidemic Say To The Covid-19 Pandemic.” Dr. Rosa acknowledges that the challenges of both crises are no joke.

The answer to the title of Dr. Rosa’s latest article is, “Thanks, man, I was starting to lose traction, but you’re a great dis-traction and I’m killing it again!”

According to Dr. Rosa, It’s not a joke and it certainly isn’t funny. But, unfortunately, it’s a fact.” He continues adding, “This has been my greatest concern since the pandemic took center stage back in February.” He shares that he is not alone in his concern, writing, “As reported recently at Quartz (qz.com) by geopolitical reporter, Annalisa Merrelli, in an article entitled, Covid-19 is undoing a decade of progress on the opioid epidemic, “experts are worried the progress made so far on tackling the opioid crisis may be jeopardized.”” https://qz.com/1889798/covid-19-is-making-the-opioid-crisis-much-worse/

“The COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Rosa states, “is without question the perfect storm that is allowing the opioid epidemic to spread freely again and take the lives of so many without even being noticed. The isolation, social distancing, uncertainties, and job losses, combined with decreasing support systems, are all well-known risk factors for increasing drug use.” He adds, “For people who have been in recovery, the pandemic provides the perfect excuse and environment in which to relapse.”

However, according to Dr. Rosa, “Social distancing and isolation aren’t the only reasons that contribute to relapse. Consider the number of patients who find themselves suddenly without insurance who lost coverage through loss of work. It takes time to enroll in Medicaid, which results in loss of continuity of treatment, and ultimately increases the risk of relapse and overdose.” He emphasizes, “And of course, the hardest hit areas economically are the rural and poorer communities where opioid abuse is always higher risk.”

 

Read the entire article at https://drjohnrosa.com/what-did-the-opioid-epidemic-say-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/

 

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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What Did The Opioid Epidemic Say To The Covid-19 Pandemic

By Dr. John Rosa

“Thanks, man, I was starting to lose traction, but you’re a great dis-traction and I’m killing it again!”

It’s not a joke and it certainly isn’t funny. But, unfortunately, it’s a fact. This has been my greatest concern since the pandemic took center stage back in February. As reported recently at Quartz (qz.com) by geopolitical reporter, Annalisa Merrelli, in an article entitled, Covid-19 is undoing a decade of progress on the opioid epidemic, “experts are worried the progress made so far on tackling the opioid crisis may be jeopardized.” https://qz.com/1889798/covid-19-is-making-the-opioid-crisis-much-worse/

 The COVID-19 pandemic is without question the perfect storm that is allowing the opioid epidemic to spread freely again and take the lives of so many without even being noticed. The isolation, social distancing, uncertainties, and job losses, combined with decreasing support systems, are all well-known risk factors for increasing drug use. For people who have been in recovery, the pandemic provides the perfect excuse and environment in which to relapse.

 

Job Loss And Loss Of Insurance Coverage

Social distancing and isolation aren’t the only reasons that contribute to relapse. Consider the number of patients who find themselves suddenly without insurance who lost coverage through loss of work. It takes time to enroll in Medicaid, which results in loss of continuity of treatment, and ultimately increases the risk of relapse and overdose. And of course, the hardest hit areas economically are the rural and poorer communities where opioid abuse is always higher risk.

 

Opioid Addiction Research Comes To A Halt

 In addition, losing ground in this effort is going to have long-term effects since much research has come to a halt because of the pandemic – especially clinical research. With so many COVID-19 patients to take care of hospitals simply don’t have sufficient to continue their work on opioid addiction research. And, where patients were being studied in prisons, doctors no longer have access due to prisons being closed to external visitors.

Fatal Overdoses Hard To Confirm Under COVID-19 Shadow

In the aforementioned Quartz article, it is stated that medical professionals around the country have seen increases in fatal overdoses. Though according to the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “it’s hard to quantify by how much, because not only does the official data lag behind incidents, but its collection relies on autopsies to confirm overdose as the cause of death. With coroners and pathologists overwhelmed by Covid-19, performing such checks has been impossible in many cases, which will likely result inaccurate data for 2020.” https://qz.com/1889798/covid-19-is-making-the-opioid-crisis-much-worse/

 

One Crisis Overshadowing Another Is No Joke 

The daily deaths throughout the U.S. from COVID-19 is just under 1,000 – around 941. The pre-pandemic daily death toll from OUD (opioid use disorder) was 150. Clearly unimpressive from some perspectives. However, from the perspective of someone who has seen the damage inflicted on family members, colleagues and friends due to opioids, who are not included in the damage or death reports, I think that statistic could be much higher.

Losing a child, a husband, a father or wife, a sister, a mother, or a friend to opioid overdose causes irreparable damage and heartache to those left behind. Some of those loved ones feel like they should have or could have done something to prevent the death. In the case of COVID-19, the killer is an invisible virus. No one knows where it is, who is potentially carrying it. In other words, there’s little notion of having a sense of control involved. Short of following safety protocols that include wearing a mask, staying safely socially distanced and washing hands there’s really nothing much one can do.

The thought that one might have been able to prevent a loved one’s death to drug overdose is equally out of anyone’s control except the person who is addicted. Addiction is as unpredictable as COVID-19 and deaths from both are equally tragic.

I find it even more tragic how the appearance of one crisis can so quickly decimate the progress that’s been so hard-won on another crisis. I have faith though that despite all appearances there will be positive outcomes learned from both of these diseases wreaking havoc on our country and the world at large.