Pain is a big problem. Around 19.6 million adults in
the U.S. experience chronic pain that interferes with daily life or work
activities.[1] Because doctors are now more conservative
with prescribing opioids and other suppressive pain meds, many patients are
becoming desperate, turning to street
drugs or, tragically, even committing suicide.
There are many safer, more natural ways to effectively relieve pain, which I cover in this article. The most important things to address are the sources of the pain, rather than just treating the symptoms.
I’ve compiled statistics and information on just how dangerous pain medications are. Educating your patients about these stark facts will help them be more open and compliant to using safer, alternative pain relief options. As you read this, highlight the statistics that relate to you best. Armed with these facts, you will secure fulfilling and long-term relationships with your patients, making you the first doctor of choice when it comes to pain.
Prescription Drugs Are 4th Leading Cause of Death
“The Epidemic of Sickness and Death from Prescription Drugs” Author, Donald Light, wrote
“Epidemiologically, appropriately prescribed, prescription drugs are the fourth leading cause of death, tied with stroke at about 2,460 deaths each week in the United States.”
About 330,000 patients die each year from prescription drugs in the United States and Europe, causing an epidemic of about 20 times more hospitalizations. [2]
JAMA author, Dr. Barbara Starfield, reported that the U.S. medical system kills 225,000 Americans a year. 106,000 as a result of FDA-approved medical drugs, and 119,000 as a result of mistreatment and errors in hospitals. Another study reveals that 20 percent of hospital admissions for acute renal failure are caused by over-the-counter and prescription drugs. [3]
A report by the “Institute for Safe Medication Practices” calculated that in 2011 prescription drugs were associated with 2 to 4 million people in the United States experiencing serious, disabling, or fatal injuries, including 128,000 deaths, “one of the most significant perils to humans resulting from human activity.” The report was compiled by outside researchers who went into the FDA’s own database of “serious adverse [medical-drug] events.” [4]
Drugs Now Kill More Americans Than Cars
In 1999, there were two and a half times more fatal car accidents than fatal drug overdoses, with 41,611 vehicular deaths and 16,849 overdoses. By 2017, those numbers flipped, with almost twice as many overdose deaths (70,237, both prescribed and illicit drugs) than the 37,133 auto accident deaths. This shows a 317% increase of drug overdose deaths in less than 2 decades. [5] [6] [7]
Heartburn Drugs
U.S. health officials have found low levels of a potentially cancer-causing chemical used in rocket fuel, in a popular heartburn drug. In September 2019, the FDA announced that samples of ranitidine, known by the brand name Zantac, were found to contain a contaminant called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)…classified as a "probable human carcinogen", because it has been found to cause cancer in animal studies.[8]
NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)
At least 175 million adults in the U.S. take OTC painkillers. Recent studies have cast serious doubt on their effectiveness and their safety.
Taking NSAIDs to prevent heart disease significantly increases the risk of side effects. It did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events(JAMA 2014;312:2510-20). The FDA found that there was evidence of “dangerous bleeding into the brain or stomach,” but no evidence of prevention of heart disease.
The newer COX-2 inhibitors (Celebrex) not only failed to solve the NSAID ulcer problem (JAMA 2001;286:2398-400), they more than doubled the risk of heart attack, stroke or angina compared to the old NSAIDs(JAMA 2001;286:954-9). The FDA has now strengthened its label warnings that non-aspirin NSAIDs increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.(FDA Safety Announcement 7-9- 2015). Ibuprofen increases the risk of major coronary events by a significant 222%.
Acetaminophen is so toxic to the liver, that it has become the leading cause of acute liver failure(Hepatology 2005;42:1364-72). Even short-term use of acetaminophen, if taken at the maximum recommended daily dose, stresses the liver(JAMA 2006;296:87-93). The study also concluded that acetaminophen dulls your emotions.(Psychological Science 2015;26:750-8).
Tylenol is the first-choice pain medication for pregnant women, and more than half of pregnant women in the U.S. use it. An important new study has raised concern over risks to children whose mothers use Tylenol while pregnant. It showed there were behavior problems in their children when they were seven years old. Use of acetaminophen showed a 42% risk for conduct problems, 31% increased risk of hyperactivity, and a 29% greater chance of their children suffering from emotional problems. These children have difficulty with aggression, dishonesty, delinquency, defiance and disruptive behaviors.(JAMA Pediatr 2016;doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.1775).
And Tylenol doesn’t even work. Despite being the most recommended drug for back pain, double-blind research shows that acetaminophen is no better than a placebo.(Lancet 2014;doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60805-9). It confers no clinically important benefit for osteoarthritis, and increases the risk of abnormal results on liver test by more than 4 times(BMJ 2015;350:h1225).(Lancet 2016;387:2093-2105).[9]
A press release issued by the European Society of Cardiology warned that painkillers considered harmless by the general public are associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiac arrest.
The study looked at a total of 28,947 patients who experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Denmark over the course of a decade. 3,376 of these were treated with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) up to 30 days before the event. The most common NSAIDs used were ibuprofen (51%) and diclofenac (22%). The study showed that Ibuprofen and diclofenac increased the risk of cardiac arrest by 31% and 50%, respectively.[10]
OPIOID DRUGS – CDC Statistics
· From 1999 to 2017, more than 700,000 people have died from a drug overdose.
· Around 68% of the more than 70,200 drug overdose deaths in 2017 involved an opioid.
· In 2017, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids (including prescription opioids and illegal opioids like heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl) was 6 times higher than in 1999.
· On average, 130 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.
· From 1999-2017, almost 400,000 people died from an overdose involving any opioid, including prescription and illicit opioids.[11]
· Sadly, a recent study showed that 91% of Americans who survived an overdose were still able to get another opioid prescription, typically from the same prescribing doctor.[12]
More Shocking Facts on the Most Recent Developments with the U.S. Opioid Crisis[13]
1.) Opioids are now the leading cause of death for people under 50. [14]
2.) The rate of overdoses for the teenage demographic surged 20% in 2015 alone, the vast majority of which were related to opioids. [15]
3.) With a 10 day supply of opioid painkillers, one in five people will become long term users. This is how addictive these pills are. [16]
4.) Doctors are getting paid by pharmaceutical companies to write prescriptions. Some 68,000 doctors have received an estimated $46 million in non-research opioid related payments. [17]
5.) In 2015, more than a third of U.S. adults were prescribed prescription opioids. [18]
6.) More than half of all opioid prescriptions are written for those with anxiety or depression. [19]
7.) Dentists and oral surgeons are now major opioid prescribers. [20]
8.) The crisis is being made worse by an international effort to rapidly develop stronger and more addictive synthetic opioids to be smuggled into the U.S. [21]
9.) The U.S. consumes at least 85% of all the world’s natural and synthetic opiates. [21]
10.) Members of the think tank community are quietly working to turn this epidemic into another foreign war, advocating the military invasion of Mexico. [22]
11.) A CDC study from 2014 showed that 12 states had more prescriptions issued than there were people, with Alabama and Tennessee tied for the most, at 143 prescriptions per 100 people. [23]
Washington State University researchers
have found out that chronic opioid pain relief users can take hope that
stopping opioid pain pills should not make their condition worse. “On average, pain did not become worse
among patients in our study a year after discontinuing long-term opioid
therapy…
If
anything, their pain improved slightly, particularly among patients with mild
to moderate pain just after discontinuation.”[24]
Traumatic events (even from long past) have shown a correlation to pain. Researchers find that the more traumatic events people have experienced, the more likely they are to have pain, and the less successful they are in recovery after surgery. [25]
Safer Natural Ways to Relieve Pain
The miraculous microbiome – and its connection to pain.
We’re discovering so much more about the gut microbiome and how it influences the immune system. It’s fascinating! Science was stunned to find that our bodies have 90% more good bacterial cells in the gut, than cells that are human in origin that make up our anatomy.
One active area of research is in rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis.Several studies have pointed to a low diversity of gut microbiota and dysbiosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The gut microbiome of patients who have not been treated with any drugs provide useful information. One study found an abundance of a specific microbe, Prevotella copri in untreated RA patients, suggesting a role of gut microbiota.
While patient studies have been limited, studies in germ-free mice, as well as mouse model studies for arthritis, have pointed to a role of gut microbiota in arthritis onset and disease severity.[26]
Homeopathic solutions
Homeopathy helps correct the symptoms at the root cause through frequency. I always say that homeopathy always works – when you find the right remedies. The key to finding the right remedies is to follow the symptoms back to the causes, not the name given to any particular disease.
Homeopathic treatment of candida has proven most effective in connecting the chronic pandemic of candida overgrowth in the world today. Candida overgrowth relates to most all chronic diseases of the 21st century. There are also homeopathic formulations to awaken your body to produce the enzymes you need to create optimal health, and formulas to activate your body to produce the optimal probiotics to restore the functions of intestinal integrity, or GI health.
See my previous articles related to this subject on CHIROFREEINFO.COM:
1. Candida- The 21st Century Epidemic
2. Chiropractic& Homeopathy: Tried and True Healing Techniques for Pain Relief
3. Empoweringthe Chiropractor to Better Correct Pain with Homeopathy
4. PowerOver Acute Pain with Homeopathy
5. PowerOver Chronic Pain with Homeopathy
About the Author:
Dr. Frank King, a Doctor of Naturopathy and Chiropractic, is a nationally recognized researcher, Homeopath, speaker, naturalist, and the author of The Healing Revolution. He is also the Founder and President of King Bio, an FDA-registered natural pharmaceutical manufacturer.
SafeCareRx, his high-potency professional line, is exclusively used in offices and clinics nationwide by Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, Naturopaths, and Medical doctors. With a background in natural health care spanning 40 years, Dr. King shares a wealth of knowledge and insights regarding how practitioners can become even more effective with unique healing techniques, and how contemporary Homeopathic remedies can enhance all other healing modalities.
DrKings.com/en/professionals
Email: custcare1@kingbio.com
Phone: 866-298-2740
References:
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6736a2.htm | Dahlhamer J, Lucas J, Zelaya C, et al. Prevalence of Chronic Pain and High-Impact Chronic Pain Among Adults - United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(36):1001-1006. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6736a2
[2] https://www.asanet.org/sites/default/files/savvy/footnotes/nov14/prescription_1114.html
[3] https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/drug-induced-acute-renal-failure
[4]https://www.opednews.com/articles/Media-won-t-investigate-me-by-Jon-Rappoport-Death_Drugs_FDA_Health-180516-354.html
[5] https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/809100
[6] https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
[7] https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812603
[8] https://www.livescience.com/heartburn-drug-zantac-carcinogen-ndma.html
[9] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/problem-painkillers
[10] https://www.greenmedinfo.health/blog/ibuprofen-can-stop-your-heart-31-increase-cardiac-arrest-risk
[11] https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html
[12] http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/11/health/sanjay-gupta-prescription-addiction-doctors-must-lead/
[13] https://www.naturalblaze.com/2017/08/10-shocking-new-facts-manufactured-opioid-crisis-america.html
[14] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/overdoses-are-leading-cause-of-death-americans-under-50/
[15] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/16/drugs-opioid-overdose-teenagers-america-trump
[16] https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/03/with-a-10-day-supply-of-opioids-1-in-5-become-long-term-users/
[17]https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/ajph.2017.303982
[18] https://ca.news.yahoo.com/more-third-us-adults-prescribed-opioids-2015-102126736.html
[19] https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/07/27/opioid-prescriptions-depression-anxiety.aspx
[20] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/10/opinion/dentists-opioids-addiction-.html
[21] https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/03/underground-labs-china-are-devising-potent-new-opiates-faster-authorities-can-respond
[22] https://www.wakingtimes.com/2017/07/18/think-tanks-want-solve-opioid-crisis-military-invasion-mexico/
[23] https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/how-bad-is-the-opioid-epidemic/
[24] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180702094029.htm
[25] https://paintreatmentdirectory.com/the-trauma-pain-connection-and-how-to-heal-it/#comment-962
[26] https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-advisor/gut-microbiome-ra-connection/article/740897/ (Feb. 1, 2018)