B O D Y T A L K
Americans Prefer
Drug-Free Pain
Management
Over Opioids
Data collected for the Gallup-
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Annual Study of Americans reveal
that "78 percent of Americans
prefer to try other ways to
address their physical pain
before they take pain medication
prescribed by a doctor."
In addition, "Forty-four percent
of Americans see prescription
painkillers as a 'crisis' or 'very
serious problem' in their local area,
and 55 percent of those who know
about the problem place 'a lot'
of blame on 'the pharmaceutical
industry encouraging doctors
to use opioids.' Fifty-three
percent place 'a lot' of blame
on 'doctors overprescribing
painkillers to their patients.'"
The report states "these
data could be a sign of a future
where patients and health-
care professionals alike favor
drug-free treatment options
before relying on opioids."
The findings are encouraging for
massage therapists, who can offer
drug-free methods of pain relief.
Body Sense 3