FEATURE STORY / OPIOIDS
non-opioid pain management strategies before turning to opioids .
Ontario ’ s Opioid Strategy
In a feedback process on the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care ’ s Opioid Strategy , the OCA supported a comprehensive approach to pain management that will improve health outcomes and decrease the reliance on opioids . We advocated that , as MSK experts , chiropractors have a role in reducing and preventing reliance on opioids to manage MSK pain .
We continue to advocate for an expansion of the province ’ s Low Back Pain Strategy . We are also urging the province to fund and expand programs which support people with chronic pain and to partner with us to strengthen the integration of non-pharmacotherapies for pain management .
Ontario ’ s Low Back Pain Strategy
As recommended in the draft 2017 Guidelines , there are a growing number of multidisciplinary teams working with Canadians with chronic MSK pain . Chiropractors are working collaboratively with other health professional across
A Patient ’ s Experience Brenda
Miller is a patient who has benefited from an approach to pain management which includes chiropractic .
Since a car accident in 2005 , Brenda suffered from debilitating back and leg pain which limited her mobility so much that she quit her job and went on the Ontario Disability Support Program . Facing severe pain every day , she was taking a range of medications including opioids ( six Tylenol 3s and six Percocets
24 SPRING 2016 2017