512- Chiropractic Adjustments Cut Opioid Addiction Risk by 80 Percent for Low Back Pain Patients

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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