Opioid addiction is a disease that has claimed the lives of many. In fact, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, almost thirty thousand people were killed in 2017 from opioid overdose. This number has increased so drastically over the past decade and is already four times higher than just 15 years ago.
The Opioid Epidemic
Prescription opioids are not unlike street heroin in how they affect the body. Addiction to this substance is not something that is limited to the wealthy, although we do hear of it in the media world affecting people like Tom Petty and Prince.
This is an epidemic that is quickly becoming a national emergency. Chiropractors can offer alternative treatment options to prescription medication to control and possibly eliminate the source of your pain.
Opioids are so addictive because they trigger a release of endorphins into your body. These endorphins are a “feel-good” hormone and decrease your body’s perception of pain.
The cycle of addiction begins when the effects wear off and a person tries to replicate the way they felt by taking more. What ends up happening is the central nervous system develops a tolerance to the drug and requires more and more to get the same feeling from it, which leads to a high risk over overdose.
Chronic pain is more common among Americans that cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined according to The National Institutes of Health. It is also one of the leading causes of disability claims, and the most common reason people reach out to medical professionals for help.
Chiropractic Is A Safe and Effective Alternative To Opioids
Our Snellville chiropractors help battle this opioid affliction by offering drug-free and natural treatments to not only manage but treat the source of the pain. In a study done by the Tennessee Chiropractic Association, back pain treatment by chiropractors helped lower opioid dependence by 55 percent.
Adjustments done by a chiropractor, massage, and physical therapy methods help those that experience this type of pain. Our chiropractors offer long-term solutions for you to not only improve overall health but improve your quality of life. Call us at (404) 889-8826 to start your treatment plan today.