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.

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

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

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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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Mental Stressors Could Contribute To Tiger Wood’s History Of Accidents And Conflict

Let me state clearly and firmly before I get too deep into this that I understand Tiger Woods is an adult who may have rejected any number of “alternative” treatments for his litany of injuries. He may not be a victim at all, however, his medical care could have been very different and might have contributed to a different, pain-free life. With that being said, let’s look at his history of professional injuries and personal conflicts that could lead to describing him as a victim of healthcare that may have been less than optimal

I tend to share the view of the founder of the Alternative Pain Treatment Directory, author and Licensed Clinical Social Worker and chronic pain survivor, Cindy Perlin, who posted a recent article about Tiger Wood’s recent automobile accident. She suggests that Tiger’s pain treatment may have been incorrect or inappropriate.

Perlin writes, “Professional golfer Tiger Woods, at age 45, is one of the most famous and successful athletes in the world. He started playing golf when he was 3 years old, and by the age of 7 was winning golf tournaments. As of 2017, Forbes listed him as the second highest-earning athlete of modern times, at $1.7 billion. However, being rich and famous does not shield someone from getting bad medical care, and Wood’s history of physical injuries and medical interventions leads me to suspect that his pain care was not optimal.” https://www.paintreatmentdirectory.com/posts/is-tiger-woods-a-victim-of-poor-pain-treatment

Red Flags

Perlin acknowledges that she has no “insider knowledge” of Tiger Woods’ medical condition or treatment. But she, as do I, sees the following as clear red flags:

Five back surgeries

Three single car accidents

Multiple tendon, ligament and joint injuries 

History of addiction treatment

As a chiropractor, I can tell you that back surgery is almost never the solution patients think it’s going to be. But it is a pretty solid way to get opioid pain killers. And post-surgery pain pill prescriptions are how the majority of people become addicted to opioids.’

Research has shown that the more surgeries a patient has, the less likely an operation is to successfully relieve pain. In one study, the success rate for initial surgeries was over 50%; success of second surgeries was 30%; third surgeries 15%; and fourth surgeries 5%. Research has also shown that people in psychological distress also have poorer spine surgery outcomes.

Woods has publicly admitted that the use of prescription painkillers contributed to at least one of his single car accidents and he has been in treatment for addiction. So the big question is, what about psychological interventions? Where does his healthcare team weigh in on this? Why has no one been urging him to pay attention to his mental health and wellbeing?

Chronic Stress Can Lead To Physical Pain And Injury

Chronic stress can also result in chronically tight muscles that make the body more prone to injury. When you consider the stressors under which Tiger has lived such as early childhood fame, rigors of competition, marital discord, racial discrimination in an all-white sport and other stressors the repetitive injuries make more sense. And so does the need for psychological help.

I think Tiger is the GOAT (greatest of all time) in the game of golf and that if his professional care included more mental health training he may not be in the situation he is in today. I hope other up-and-coming young athletes can learn from Tiger’s path and follow another road that leads to less pain and suffering.

National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa Writes About The Trauma Young Children Are Exposed To That Often Leads To Negative Behaviors And Later Drug Use And Abuse.

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker discusses the events that occurred in 2020 that may impact developing children in much the same way that soldiers who have been to war are emotionally impacted.

ROCKVILLE, MD. February 15, 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, “Children Are At Risk Of Being As Emotionally Damaged As Soldiers Returning From War.”  Dr. Rosa makes a plea to doctors and other adults who spend time with children to pay close attention to their behavior.

 Dr. Rosa states, “You may think the title of this piece sounds ludicrous.” He adds, “Let me explain.” Dr. Rosa writes, “Children between the ages of 6 and 17 years of age are in a state of constant neurological development. They can easily be negatively impacted by severe trauma or repetitive micro traumas.” He continues, “If you take into consideration the events of 2020 alone, without having a clue what is going to unfold this year, you may quickly understand.”

“For starters,” says Dr. Rosa, “the year began with an invisible monster in the form of the COVID-19 virus. Following that, the civil unrest and political upheaval that occurred was deeply disturbing. The west coast of the U.S. was on fire and the gulf coast was under water.” According to Dr. Rosa, “These events were enough to wreak havoc on the most solid adult, let alone children who are not equipped to understand or make sense of the world around them.”

 

Read the entire blog at http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/children-are-at-risk-of-being-as-emotionally-damaged-as-soldiers-returning-from-war/

 

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.

National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa Tells Readers The Effects Of 2020 Will Be Around For Years To Come.

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker writes about the long lingering effects of “diseases of despair” caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in economic instability, social isolation and constant fear of the unknown.

ROCKVILLE, MD. December 18, 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, “Even When 2020 Is Over It Won’t Soon Be Forgotten.”  Dr. Rosa elaborates on the year everyone would like to forget.

 Dr. Rosa writes, “Just about everyone I know agrees that they wish 2020 could be magically erased from their memories.” He continues, “While we, as a species, do tend to move on quickly to the next “it” thing, the negative effects of this year are going to be visible in the world for years to come. Much like the light we see in the night sky from stars that have burned out years ago, the mental health issues ignited in 2020 will be taking their toll long after this year is over.”

As Dr. Rosa explains, “Economic instability, social isolation and constant fear of the unknown are fuel for the “diseases of despair” that include drug addiction, alcoholism and suicide.” He goes on to elaborate, “Our biological adaptive responses are designed to handle stressful situations for short periods of time. But they are not intended to be useful on a long-term basis which is why so many people take to engaging in behaviors that falsely compensate while immersed in long-term stressful situations.”

“Dopamine,” says Dr. Rosa, “is a hormone reward system that gives us the ability to plan and feel accomplished when we complete tasks. It also activates pleasure pathways that guide us to enjoyable things that cultivate life like eating and sex to ensure the survival of our species.” He adds, “During long-term stressful times our ability to produce dopamine is diminished with devastating effects.”

 

Read the entire article at http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/even-when-2020-is-over-it-wont-soon-be-forgotten/

 

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 Finds Government Deal With Sackler Family To Be Like An Oxymoron.

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker shares information that reveals a government deal that puts the government into the business of selling opioids in order to combat opioid addiction. 

ROCKVILLE, MD. November 18, 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, “Oxycontin Oxymoron.”  Dr. Rosa elaborates on the long-term effects of chronic stress and offers tips for self-care.

Oxycontin Oxymoron

I read an article recently that made me scratch my head in wonder. The title of the article is Oxycontin Maker Pleads Guilty and Shuts Down. I was very interested to read the details and thought that after reading it I would be able to cheer. However, that was not my take-away.

I’m sharing parts of the article a little further on in this piece so you can see exactly what I’m talking about. But first I want to provide definitions for the two words that make up the title of this piece.

Oxycontin: Narcotic

It can treat moderate to severe pain. High risk for addiction and dependence. Can cause respiratory distress and death when taken in high doses or when combined with other substances, especially alcohol.

Oxymoron: A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.

Example: Jumbo shrimp

 

Now To The Story

The article I’m going to share excerpts from is about the Sackler family. That’s the family that owned Purdue Pharma which created and marketed Oxycontin and is responsible for creating the opioid epidemic, not just in this country but around the world. If you’ve been following the story, you may know that the Sacklers were considering filing for bankruptcy back in  early 2019 while they were facing “an estimated 2,600 lawsuits relating to its role in creating the opioid epidemic.”

Instead of filing for bankruptcy, “court documents reveal the Sacklers transferred more than $10 billion of the company’s funds into family trusts. They fraudulently transferred company funds into trusts and offshore accounts owned by members of the Sackler family in an effort to shield assets from litigation. https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/11/04/purdue-pharma-pleads-guilty.aspx

The article also mentions a New York complaint charging “Purdue with secretly setting up a new company, Rhodes Pharma, in 2007 while the company was being investigated by federal prosecutors, as a way to protect the Sacklers from the mounting OxyContin crisis and continue their profit scheme.6 Rhodes Pharma makes generic opioids, allowing the Sacklers to benefit from the opioid epidemic both in terms of brand name sales and generic sales.” And, “according to a lawsuit filed in Massachusetts,10 Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers sought to increase opioid prescriptions while simultaneously developing overdose treatment to boost its profits.” https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/11/04/purdue-pharma-pleads-guilty.aspx

 

Here’s Where It Gets Twisted 

According to the article, “Purdue finally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2019.11 At the end of October 2020, Purdue Pharma agreed to plead guilty to three federal criminal charges relating to its role in the opioid crisis, including violating a federal anti-kickback law, conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and violating the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.12,13

To settle the charges, Purdue is supposed to pay $8.3 billion in fines, forfeiture of past profits and civil liability payments.14 However, the company doesn’t have enough cash to cover the payments so, instead, Purdue Pharma will be dissolved, and its assets used to erect a “public benefit company,” in other words, a government-owned and controlled drug company.

This new company will reportedly be controlled by a trust that will “balance the trust’s interests against those of the American public and public health.”15 Future earnings from this public benefit company will be used to pay off the $8.3 billion penalty, which in turn is supposed to be used to combat the opioid crisis.”

Which means, “In essence, the government will now be in the business of making and selling opioids, the profits from which will then be used to combat opioid addiction.”

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/11/04/purdue-pharma-pleads-guilty.aspx

Now, that’s not exactly the same as Jumbo Shrimp, but it does sound oxymoronic, loopy in fact. It sounds like the government is following in the Sacklers’ footsteps. I’m not quite sure what to do besides scratch my head in wonderment. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see how selling opioids will help combat opioid addiction.

 

Read the entire article at http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/oxycontin-oxymoron/

 

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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