Opioid Crisis 2018.pdf is a slide-style advocacy/educational briefing (SaferPainRelief.org/Dr Jay Greenstein) focused on the U.S. opioid epidemic, the burden of low back pain, costs of care, and promotion of non-pharmacologic/conservative treatments (chiropractic care, exercise, CBT, acupuncture, cryotherapy, dry needling). The document compiles 2016 opioid statistics (e.g., ~116 opioid-related deaths per day; 42,249 opioid overdose deaths in 2016), economic impact estimates (CEA/2017: ~$504 billion), national health expenditure trends through 2024, safety notices about NSAIDs (FDA label-strengthening), systematic reviews and clinical guidelines (Cochrane 2016 NSAIDs review, ACP 2017 guideline, Lancet 2018 series), and observational/claim-based studies associating chiropractic care with lower opioid prescription fills (JACM Whedon et al.: OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.40–0.47). The tone alternates between evidence-summary, advocacy for conservative care, and patient-facing practical advice.
Questions this document answers
42,249
116 people per day
$504 billion
$5,425 billion; 19.6% of GDP
13 trials