ST. LOUIS — In the wake of the national opiate abuse crisis, October marks National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM) and provides an important opportunity to educate pain sufferers about the benefits of chiropractic care and its evidence-informed, patient-centered and drug-free approach to wellness.

This year’s theme, “Back to Basics,” emphasizes simple yet significant strategies for maintaining spinal health throughout a lifetime. Back pain is a major health issue: Up to 80 percent of people will suffer from the malady during their lives, and it is one of the most common reasons patients begin taking medications.

NCHM’s message couldn’t be more salient – according to the CDC, more than 90 Americans die each day from opioid abuse and overuse, and the number of deaths from overdoses has quadrupled since 1999. In 2014, more than 13,000 people died from overdoses, and another 2 million abused or were dependent on opioids.

“Chiropractors are uniquely poised to work side-by-side with medical providers to assist patients with chronic pain and rehabilitation after injury,” said Clay McDonald, DC, MBA, JD, president of Logan University. “The increasing interest in holistic wellness, improved nutrition and non-drug based solutions to pain all coalesce now, creating the perfect scenario for a renaissance in chiropractic.”

Further proof of the increasing demand for chiropractic care, Logan University has recently enrolled its largest class of doctor of chiropractic candidates in a decade. One Logan researcher, Norman Kettner, DC, DACBR, FICC, is widely considered an expert in brain mapping and pain. Dr. Kettner’s most recent research published in the journal Brain showed the positive impact acupuncture has on people suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.

Additional evidence supports drug-free approaches to pain treatment, such as a 2017 study in the Journal of American Medical Association which found that spinal manipulation therapy improves pain among patients with acute low back pain.