Why are Opioids so Dangerous?

It's estimated that over 200 million opioid prescriptions are written each year. This use and abuse has led to an epidemic that's been fueled by chronic pain. Opioids temporarily hide pain by attaching to receptors in the brain and boosting feelings of pleasure. Unfortunately, they do nothing to stimulate healing, leading to a pattern of pain, medications, and more pain. The good news is that there is a better way to find relief.

Opioids are in the same family of drugs as heroin, and some opioid medications are thought to be even more addictive. The temporary relief that they offer comes at a steep price. In lower doses, opioids can cause drowsiness or dizziness. Higher doses can cause your breathing and heart rate to slow down to dangerous levels. But the most dangerous aspect of opioids is the addiction rate of up to 30%.

- Opioids bind to the receptions in your nervous system that block pain and produce intense euphoria

- Tolerance to opioids can build in just a few short days

- Withdrawal symptoms are severe and can lead to addiction

Next Steps:

Whether you are looking to find relief from pain, correct the cause of your health issues, or you’re seeking improvements in function and performance, chiropractic care may be able to help. It's very common for people with low back pain, headaches, or neck pain to seek chiropractic care. But don't forget about all of the other joints of your body- we can help there too. And finally, if you're seeking human performance improvements, you may want to try chiropractic care. There's a reason chiropractors are a part of every major sports team!

Science Source:

What are opioids and why are they dangerous? Mayo Clinic. 2018

Impact of Chiropractic Care on Use of Prescription Opioids in Patients with Spinal Pain. 2020

Opioid Addiction. Stat Pearls. 2021

Healing the Unmet Needs of Patients Suffering from Chronic Pain. 2019

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. April 2019