ATLANTA (August, 11 2020) – A group of Georgia chiropractors and community leaders launched a public awareness campaign promoting the benefits of natural pain relief – such as chiropractic care – over controlled pain medication to fight the opioid crisis. The campaign’s attention-getting message asks and encourages, “Painful Condition? Get Relief. Without Addiction.”
The campaign’s timely message comes on the heels of news from the Georgia Department of Public Health, which has detected increased drug overdose-related Emergency Department visits throughout the state.
Chiropractors and leaders affiliated with Life University, Georgia Chiropractic Association, and the Georgia Council of Chiropractic came together to create the campaign, which was funded by a grant from The William M. Harris Family Foundation.
Data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that 1,014 Georgians died from opioid overdoses in 2017. An area known as “The Triangle” north of Atlanta, spanning from Marietta to Alpharetta and down to Atlanta, has seen an alarming rate of growth of opioid usage.
Unfortunately, many people get access to opioids legally through their primary care physicians. One in four primary care patients who are on a long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain become addicted, according to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And the new trend of virtual healthcare visits may be making it even easier to access opioids.
“We could end this crisis if more patients knew of safer ways to treat back and neck pain,” said Leana Kart, D.C., who serves as the campaign’s committee’s spokesperson and is a past president of the Georgia Chiropractic Association and a trustee with Life University.
Back pain affects almost everyone. It is one of the most common reasons people visit their healthcare providers and miss work.
“Our goal is to educate the public about safer pain treatment alternatives and to ask physicians to counsel patients on natural pain relief first,” Kart said.
The campaign’s message is in line with leading healthcare agencies who recommend non-pharmacological care – including chiropractic – for patients with non-cancer pain. These agencies include the CDC, the U.S Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare.
People with all levels of spinal pain get proven relief from chiropractic care, which aims to restore movement and function. Patients may experience relief from spinal adjustments as well as supportive care such as stretching, spinal traction, soft tissue care, and muscle strengthening. Nutrition and lifestyle counseling may also be provided. And like medical doctors, chiropractors are highly trained, specialized, licensed and regulated.
“With what we know now, opioids must come off the table for neck and back pain,” Kart said. “Drug-free chiropractic care should be the first choice for patients with spinal pain.”
Find a doctor of chiropractic near you to make spinal care a part of your healthy lifestyle. For more information or to find a local chiropractor, visit ReliefWithoutAddiction.org. Follow @ReliefWithoutAddiction on Facebook and Instagram for important updates.
About the campaign
Anyone is at risk to become addicted to opioids. Even short-term use of legally-prescribed opioids can lead to an addiction. The “Painful condition? Get Relief. Without Addiction.” campaign aims to promote chiropractic as a natural pain relief alternative to prescription opioids. Chiropractic care is proven to improve back pain and to help with a myriad of health conditions.
This public awareness campaign was created jointly by Life University, Georgia Chiropractic Association, and the Georgia Council of Chiropractic and was made possible by The William M. Harris Family Foundation.
Find a doctor of chiropractic near you to make spinal care a part of your healthy lifestyle. For more information or to find a local chiropractor, visit ReliefWithoutAddiction.org or follow @ReliefWithoutAddiction on Facebook and Instagram.