We’re back with more powerful research on this week’s episode of The Evidence Based Chiropractor. If you care about your patients’ health and the opioid crisis, this is a must-read.

Here’s the Big News:
A brand new study published in 2025 shows that patients who choose chiropractic care first for new low back pain are an astonishing 80% less likely to develop an opioid use disorder, compared to those who reach for ibuprofen and follow the typical medical pathway.

Let’s break down the study highlights:

Dramatic risk reduction: Only 0.24% of patients who consulted a chiropractor developed opioid use disorder — versus 1.5% in the ibuprofen group.

Prescription impact: Chiropractic patients not only had a significantly lower risk of addiction but also received less than half the average number of opioid prescriptions compared to the ibuprofen group.

Long-term safety: Long-term opioid use (90+ days) was 77% lower among chiropractic patients.

Episode Notes:
Association Between Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Low Back Pain With or Without Sciatica and Opioid Use Disorder

Leander Tables- Save $1,000 on the Series 950 Table using the code EBC2025 — their most advanced flexion-distraction table

Patient Pilot by The Smart Chiropractor is the fastest, easiest to generate weekly patient reactivations on autopilot…without spending any money on advertising. Click here to schedule a call with our team.

Our members use research to GROW their practice. Are you interested in increasing your referrals? Discover the best chiropractic marketing you aren't currently using right here!