Older people die from drug overdose soar In recent years, there has been a 147% increase over the past decade, the highest increase of any age group in the country. Among those 65 and older, men are twice as likely as women to suffer a drug overdose, and black Americans are more than 10 percent more likely than other minority groups. Given that older adults are more vulnerable to prescription drug overdose, access to non-drug alternatives for pain management is especially important. Reducing opioid use begins with changing our approach to chronic pain management and increasing access to safe, effective, non-addictive treatment options.
Congress recognizes the need for new approaches to combat opioid abuse and drug addiction. In late May, the Senate passed a Resolution Calling on Congress to advance a bipartisan solution to address the substance use disorder needs of older adults, pointing to several reasons why our older adults are more vulnerable to substance use disorders.Last year, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing Members emphasized the need to better promote non-addictive treatments and asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prioritize non-addictive pain management alternatives.
While this is a shift in the right direction, policymakers must also bear in mind the value of complementary and integrated health care (CIH) for older adults and those with chronic pain to reduce opioid use and dependence. When CIH providers are used for pain management from the start, research shows opioid prescriptions plummet, a smarter prevention strategy than managing addiction on the back end.This American College of Physicians It is strongly recommended to start with nonpharmacological treatment of acute and chronic low back pain. Let’s follow the evidence and promote non-pharmacological pain management approaches as first-line treatment.
CIH providers, including chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists, provide effective and safe pain management. However, they are often ignored by Congress and the health care system, which often defaults to medication as the first step in reducing pain. Patients are increasingly using complementary and integrative therapies and expanding access to these care options to provide older adults with more choices and control over their health management.
Beyond a lack of willingness by policymakers, however, significant barriers hinder access to comprehensive care options and providers. The economics of the healthcare system limit access and do not incentivize patients to choose high-value CIH services.Instead, they tend to prescribe pharmacological approaches (including opioids) that do not reflect best practices in chronic pain management, such as American College of Physicians, Joint Commission and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Increasing access to nonpharmacological treatments and lowering financial barriers is critical to ensuring that high-value care is incentivized and healthcare delivery reflects current best practice. Treating pain and related disorders first with non-drugs has the potential to reduce drug dependence, accidental overdose and death, and other serious adverse effects, while preventing relapse in addicted patients who may continue to experience pain associated with acute injury.
Legislative measures to combat opioid abuse and drug addiction should be complemented by policies that provide viable treatment options for older adults. To do this, we must acknowledge the role of CIH in preventive care and ensure that policies provide comprehensive health care professionals. Congress needs to prioritize CIH over more invasive and addictive treatments to change the trajectory of our deadly opioid epidemic. By emphasizing the benefits of comprehensive health care to better support health creation across the lifespan, Congress can reform our nation’s approach to chronic pain management.
Health science education is training the next generation of healthcare professionals to prioritize effective nonpharmacological pain management to prepare the workforce of the future for evidence-based practice. Now is the time for Congress to follow suit — Congress must advocate and prioritize policies that include complementary and comprehensive health care.
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