ARTICLE
Utilization of nonpharmacological pain management may prevent unnecessary use of opioids. The study reported here was conducted to evaluate the impact of chiropractic utilization upon use of prescription opioids among patients with spinal pain. Researhcers employed a retrospective cohort design for analysis of health claims data from three contiguous states for the years 2012-2017, that included adults aged 18-84 years enrolled in a health plan and with office visits to a primary care physician or chiropractor for spinal pain. We identified two cohorts of subjects: Recipients received both primary care and chiropractic care, and nonrecipients received primary care but not chiropractic care. The total number of subjects was 101,221. Overall, between 1.55 and 2.03 times more nonrecipients filled an opioid prescription, as compared with recipients. Similar differences were observed for the acute groups. Authors conclude that patients with spinal pain who saw a chiropractor had half the risk of filling an opioid prescription. Among those who saw a chiropractor within 30 days of diagnosis, the reduction in risk was greater as compared with those with their first visit after the acute phase. ______________________________ Source: https://chiro.org/wordpress/2020/03/impact-of-chiropractic-care-on-use-of-prescription-opioids-in-patients-with-spinal-pain/