Tackling the Opioid Crisis: A Chiropractic Approach to an Epidemic
The Canadian opioid crisis has been at the epicenter of policy-making and citizens’ concern due to its intricate ties to public health, homelessness, and crime rates in the country. Dr. Aaron Deleary, a chiropractor of indigenous descent, has emerged as a foot soldier in this battle, using his unique perspective to approach the opioid crisis in a non-traditional manner.
The Opioid Crisis: A Brief Backdrop
Canada is witnessing an alarming rise in opioid-related deaths—a ramification directly linked to the sharp increase in opioid prescriptions since the ’90s.
Not simply confined to legitimate prescriptions, illicit opioid use, such as street-grade fentanyl, and heroin has amplified the crisis manifold. Several issues including rampant homelessness and increased crime rates have surfaced as direct by-products of the opioid crisis.
Critical decisions have been taken in response to this alarming phenomenon. Institutions and community leaders have initiated several diverse approaches. One such approach outlined in the linked article is that of Dr. Aaron Deleary, an indigenous chiropractor. His objective: curbing opioid dependency in his patients by introducing alternative, drug-free pain management.
The Chiropractic Approach to Pain Management
Dr. Deleary’s modus operandi involves leveraging his indigenous background to connect with patients seeking pain relief solutions, alternatives to the customary opioid prescription. His chief tool is chiropractic care—an approach that uses hands-on spinal manipulation and other alternative treatments to manage pain.
The strategy here is simple; by managing discomfort and enhancing physical function in patients through non-opioid means, one can effectively reduce dependency on these harmful drugs.
Dr. Deleary’s Holistic Approach
Interestingly, Deleary adopts an indigenous perspective towards treating pain. He factors in various aspects like the patient’s cultural, social, spiritual, and emotional health while devising individual treatment plans. In doing so, he succeeds in delivering a holistic healthcare experience to the patient—a requisite for managing pain more optimally.
Key Points in Dr. Deleary’s Approach
- Deleary aims to offer opioid-free pain management strategies.
- Chiropractic care is at the center of his treatment methodology.
- A key goal is to enhance patients’ physical functions, thus improving their quality of life.
- His unique indigenous perspective enables him to deliver holistic healthcare to his patients.
- Together, these measures aim to reduce the risk of opioid dependency, potentially meaning fewer homeless individuals and less crime.
Implications and Challenges
While Deleary’s approach might symbolize hope for many, it currently reaches just a handful in the overall population affected by opioids. The chief challenge is making such alternative forms of therapy accessible and affordable to all in need. The augmentation of such services and the nurturing of a perception that views addictive substances not as immediate go-to solutions, but as final resorts, are the chief battlegrounds here.
The Ongoing Battle against the Opioid Crisis
Other measures to combat the opioid crisis are also in place. A nationwide opioid class action lawsuit for damages against opioid manufacturers is ongoing, while many pharmacies across the country have started offering naloxone—a potentially life-saving medication that can quickly reverse opioid overdose—to their patrons.
Concluding Remarks
Every step taken to combat the opioid crisis is not only about saving lives; it is also about preserving the social fabric of our nation, which is being inexorably frayed by the crisis. Dr. Deleary’s approach, if integrated into the broader healthcare system, possesses potential to make considerable strides in this battle.
Recognizing that opioids are not the only solution to chronic pain sets us in the right direction. As we endeavor to tackle this crisis, let us appreciate and explore non-traditional healing practices such as chiropractic care that emphasizes the overall well-being of individuals—physically, emotionally, and socially—that can help crumble the seemingly insurmountable wall of the opioid crisis.
