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
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