American Chiropractic Association Commends President for Plans to Designate Opioid Crisis a National Emergency

 

American Chiropractic Association President David Herd, DC, issued the following statement today in response to President Trump’s plans to designate the opioid crisis a national emergency:

“The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) commends the Trump Administration for its plans to designate the opioid epidemic in the U.S. a national emergency. America’s chiropractors share the administration’s concerns regarding the rampant overuse and abuse of prescription opioid pain medications. Many cases of opioid addiction – and eventual heroin use – can be traced back to an epidemic of chronic pain that has for too long been improperly treated in this country.

"Back pain, in particular, has been identified as one of the most common reasons why primary care physicians prescribe opioids, despite the fact that a 2016 review and meta-analysis of relevant research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that these drugs are essentially ineffective for treating chronic low-back pain. This year, the American College of Physicians released updated low-back pain treatment guidelines that promote the use of non-invasive, non-drug approaches to treatment as a first line of defense against back pain.

"We believe patients across the country would benefit tremendously if health care professionals could work more collaboratively to identify individuals who could benefit from such an approach. With this in mind, chiropractors stand ready to work together with President Trump’s opioid panel as well as federal and state legislatures, medical physicians and community groups across the country to address this epidemic, which has caused unnecessary suffering, enormous loss of human potential, and massive financial and personal costs.”

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The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is the largest professional association in the United States representing doctors of chiropractic. ACA promotes the highest standards of ethics and patient care, contributing to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients. Visit us at www.acatoday.org.

Media Contacts:
Annette Bernat: (703) 812­-0226 | [email protected]

 

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