What Research Is Showing Regarding Chronic Pain and How Chiropractic Care Helps Reduce Reliance on Opioids

Chronic Pain: A Growing Problem in the United States

Chronic pain is pervasive and continues to rise in the US.

• About 20% of US adults — or 1 in 5 — have chronic pain.
• Chronic pain is more common among older adults, females, veterans, adults living in poverty, and those with public health insurance.
• Related mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety have also increased.

The Impact of Musculoskeletal Conditions

Chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions create major challenges due to cost and disability.

• Musculoskeletal conditions are the leading cause of disability in the US, accounting for millions of healthcare visits each year.
• Chronic pain leads to billions of dollars in healthcare costs and lost productivity annually.

Back Pain as a Leading Cause of Chronic Pain

Back pain remains one of the most common and debilitating sources of chronic pain.

• Half of all Americans report back pain symptoms each year.
• Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people are prescribed opioids.
• Nearly 80% of Americans prefer trying non-drug options before prescription medications.

Clinical Guidelines Favor Non-Drug Treatments First

Healthcare organizations increasingly recommend conservative, non-drug care for musculoskeletal pain.

• The American College of Physicians recommends noninvasive, non-drug treatments — including spinal manipulation — for acute and chronic low back pain before medication.
• The Joint Commission added chiropractic care to hospital pain-management standards.
• Department of Defense and VA guidelines also include spinal manipulation as a noninvasive option.

Research Supports Chiropractic Care for Reducing Opioid Use

Studies show that chiropractic services can help reduce reliance on prescription opioids.

• The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that a whole-health approach including chiropractic care reduces opioid prescriptions by 63%.
• 60–90% of chiropractic and alternative therapy users report improvement in chronic pain.

Choosing a Chiropractor First May Lower Opioid Risk

Starting care with a chiropractor may reduce the likelihood of later opioid use.

• A Mayo Clinic study found that patients with neck pain who sought chiropractic care first had lower odds of advanced imaging, injections, and opioid use.
• A 2022 study found that older Medicare patients receiving chiropractic care for spinal pain were significantly less likely to fill an opioid prescription.
• A British Medical Journal study reported a 90% decrease in both early and long-term opioid use among patients who saw a chiropractor first for low back pain.

References

American Chiropractic Association

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