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 Gives An Overview Of How The Medical Industry Has Been Manipulated Through The Ages.

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker reveals a very unpleasant truth about the ongoing suppression of healing modalities that work with the natural healing capacity of the human body in favor of “treatments” such as pills and surgeries that reap monetary benefits for the medical industrial complex.

ROCKVILLE, MD. February 26, 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, “Keeping People Sick And In Pain Is A Multi-Trillion Dollar Business.”  Dr. Rosa presents an overview of manipulation that has prevented real healing modalities to grow and prosper.

 “First,” Dr. Rosa writes, “in 2017, global expenditures for healthcare exceeded $7.8 trillion, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Secondly,” he continues, “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.” He acknowledges, “You may be able to more clearly understand now that keeping people healthy is not quite as lucrative as keeping them unhealthy.”Dr. Rosa states, “Our so-called “health system” is actually a misnomer. In fact,” he adds, “the mainstream medical industry is alive, well and thriving by keeping people sick and in pain.” He offers to elaborate, “Let me paint the picture for you by starting with a few well-known facts.”

Dr. Rosa goes on to add, “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

As Dr. Rosa points out, “A couple 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.”

 

Read the entire article at http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/keeping-people-sick-and-in-pain-is-a-multi-trillion-dollar-business/

 

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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Long-term Use Of Opioids Has Been Found To Make Chronic Pain Worse

By Dr. John Rosa

If I were to tell you that your chronic pain is a result of something that is going on in your brain, you might want to “brain me.” But, in fact, this is something that researchers are discovering and bringing to light as the opioid crisis continues to spiral out of control.

 

The Reward Of Opioid Addiction Is More Pain 

According to researchers in a recent article, “New evidence suggests that the body’s reward system may be more important than tissue damage in the transition from acute to chronic pain.” The article explains, “By reward system, they (the researchers) are referring, in part, to the endogenous opioid system, a complicated system connected to several areas of the brain. The system includes the natural release of endorphins from pleasurable activities.” https://neurosciencenews.com/opioid-chronic-emotion-pain-17507/

It turns out that emotional and chronic physical pain are “bidirectional” meaning they function in two directions. Endorphins are natural opioids produced in the brain. They are part of the brain’s pleasure and reward system. According to researchers, “When this reward system is damaged by manufactured opioids, it perpetuates isolation and chronic illness and is a strong risk factor for depression. Rather than helping the pain for which the opioid was originally sought, persistent opioid use may be chasing the pain in a circular manner, diminishing natural rewards from normal sources of pleasure, and increasing social isolation,” and ultimately increasing chronic pain. https://neurosciencenews.com/opioid-chronic-emotion-pain-17507/

 

Use Your Brain Instead Of Letting It Use You

Recent research suggests emotional pain activates many of the same limbic brain centers as physical pain. This appears to be especially true for the most common chronic pain syndromes – back pain, headaches, and fibromyalgia.

According to this article, the authors state, “Physical injury and social rejection activate similar brain centers. Many of the patients who use opioid medications long term for the treatment of chronic pain have both physical and social pain, but these medications may produce a state of persistent opioid dependence that suppresses the endogenous opioid system that is essential for human socialization and reward processing.” Importantly they state that, “Recognition of the social aspects of chronic pain and opioid action can improve our treatment of chronic pain and our use of opioid medications.”

https://neurosciencenews.com/opioid-chronic-emotion-pain-17507/

This leads me to the mind-body connection and those who have been beating the drum for decades to little or no avail. It’s about time for the mainstream medical industry to catch up with the mind and its role in pain. One of the most prolific and profound proponents of helping people overcome chronic pain without drugs or dangerous surgeries was Dr. John Sarno. He was professor of Clinical Rehabilitation medicine at the New York University School of Medicine and author of numerous books on the mind-body connection. His most popular book is called Healing Back Pain, The Mind-Body Connection. Dr. Sarno is no longer alive, but his work is being continued. I recommend Dr. Sarno’s work to anyone in chronic pain.

 

Stop The Pain Stop The Drugs

Opioids may trick the brain into forgetting the pain better early on, but over long-term use, opioids wreak havoc on the physical body as well as psychological well-being. It turns out that the only way to stop the pain is to stop the drugs. In the meantime, there are other methods that provide real relief: chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, and more. Awareness is the first step. Give something other than opioids a chance.

The Deadly Effects Of Social Isolation

By Dr. John Rosa

The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing to the foreground the serious effects of extended social isolation. According to a recent New York Times article, “The psychological effects of loneliness are a health risk comparable with obesity or smoking.” The health implications are as serious as a heart attack. In fact, extended social isolation has been noted to cause heart disease, dementia, depression, and even death. The isolation was meant to help us avoid death due to COVID-19, but it is increasing our vulnerability to the very disease that isolation is meant to help address.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/opinion/covid-lockdown-isolation.html?campaign_id=39&emc=edit_ty_20201208&instance_id=24820&nl=opinion-today&regi_id=74586418&segment_id=46333&te=1&user_id=3e21bfc7edc421f4499d99f53134721a

 

Statistics show that anxiety and depression have spiked during the pandemic. And apparently, there has been an 18% spike in overdose deaths with more than 40 states reporting increases.

Not everyone handles social isolation in the same way. According to an article in Sciencemag.org, a behavioral scientist at the University of Arizona, Chris Segrin says, “It’s important to remember that not everyone is going into this with the same level of mental health. Someone who is already having problems with social anxiety, depression, loneliness, substance abuse, or other health problems is going to be particularly vulnerable.”

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/we-are-social-species-how-will-social-distancing-affect-us

After nearly a full year, I doubt there’s anyone who isn’t feeling the stressful effects of the extended isolation and social distancing. The vulnerable population is growing. It is increasingly important to check in with your loved ones frequently to ascertain how they are handling the stresses. And it’s very important to stay in touch with those family members, friends, and colleagues you know who are more vulnerable. We have to take mental health effects as seriously as we are taking the physical effects. In fact, it turns out that COVID-19 lockdowns dovetail with years of science that shows social isolation isn’t just psychologically harmful to humans, but deadly. The virus has already claimed too many lives. Let’s do everything possible to keep the mental and emotional health of ourselves and our loved ones strong so we can get through this challenging time.

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 http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/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

 

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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 http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/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 http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/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

 

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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.

The Explosive Combination Of Opioids, Isolation And COVID-19

Isolation has historically been used as a form of torture around the world. We humans need interaction with other humans. We need the warmth of connections, family, friends, colleagues. So when I think about people who have become addicted to opioids that sooner or later isolate themselves from either a life they want or a life they remember, it is another form of torture that is as devastating as the drug itself.

 

Drug Abuse Is A Mechanism Of Escape

If someone became addicted because a doctor prescribed opioids instead of treatment or if someone tried it at a party to get high and fell into the trap of using, the dependency usually serves the same mechanism of escape. People with a difficult life like the feeling of not caring about that difficult life. People with a great life who get caught up in using become isolated as they continue to cause friction and distance from the ones they love which in turn demands more use.

Psychology tells us that people begin abusing drugs often as a result of being bored and having too much time on their hands. Furthermore, it is known that as abuse progresses into addiction, boredom becomes even more of a factor because the drug actually rewires the brain to receive more gratification from the opioid than from normal activities.

 

Isolation Without Routines

Normally, there is some routine in place that keeps most people from abusing drugs at all hours of the day. However, when work, school and social activity come to a halt, people struggling with addiction have to face more cravings while also having fewer options for combating them.

Depression and anxiety also increase with isolation. Being isolated makes it more likely for a person to estrange themselves from friends and family.

 

Along Comes COVID-19

COVID has made those susceptible to use opioids much more likely to do so. I look at the opioid crisis as a pile of burning wood that has been sending smoke signals to our country demanding help.

The wood is the susceptible population.

The drying of the wood is the long standing cover up and greed of pharmaceutical companies. The gun powder on the wood pile is the overprescribing by doctors.

The gasoline poured over the pile is heroin and fentanyl

– and here comes COVID-19 walking by and takes that last drag on a cigarette before flicking it towards the pile.

 

Kaboom!

The explosion has happened. Opioid users are now more isolated than ever, more vulnerable than ever, more terrified than ever, more tortured than ever. We have a bigger problem than ever on our hands as this global pandemic disrupts all our lives in one way or another. The opioid epidemic was already spiraling out of control and now it’s going to be even more challenging to pick up the pieces.