"Opioid use - even short term - can lead to addiction and, too often, overdose." -Mayo Clinic Staff To put it, bluntly - pain sucks. If you've ever injured yourself, you know exactly how debilitating it can be. Now imagine that you've served time in combat in Iraq, lost some of your best friends in battle, been injured from the strain of battle and suffered the psychological stress from witnessing the horrors of war, not to mention being away from your home and most of the people you love. That sounds like the potential for the pain to be taken to the next level. Pain management has always been a concern for Veterans Affairs and the Department Of Defense, especially for veterans who have seen combat. To make matters even more challenging, opioids - a very potent and effective pain medication, has been proven to be addictive and life harming long term. Can chiropractic help? There are many factors that impact whether or not a Veteran receives a prescription for an opioid. Veterans in moderate to servere pain were 87% more likely to receive an opioid prescription. Veterans suffering from depression where 40% more likely to receive and opioid prescription. And, veterans who smoked were 39% more likely to receive a prescription. This week talk about a study looking at veterans under chiropractic care. What We Covered

• The study and how it was performed.
• The limitations to the study.
• The possible correlation between chiropractic care and opioid reduction.