4 Ways You Can Fight the Opioid Crisis from Within Your PT Practice

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 115 people in the U.S. die every day overdosing on opioids. With a large number of people experiencing chronic pain, the amount of opioids being prescribed has drastically increased. In 2012, 259 million prescriptions were written for opioids—nearly enough to give every American adult their own bottle of pills.

Chronic pain is a widespread issue in this country and opioids are often used as an immediate solution to mask the pain. This study found that over 25 million adults had experienced pain every day for three months, and nearly 40 million adults experienced severe levels of pain. Of the patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain, about 21-29% misuse them.

As a physical therapist, you should do your part in this crisis. Physical therapists are experts in the musculoskeletal system and pain management and offer a wide array of treatments to cure the source of pain. We know that physical therapy is a great alternative to opioid use, but many patients are unaware of this. Here are four steps you can take with each of your chronic pain patients to decrease the likelihood of opioid addiction and abuse.

Acknowledge Their Pain

Educate Them About Pain

Whether you can pinpoint the exact source of a patient’s pain or not, you can still educate on the treatments, exercises and other healthy options for pain management and cure. Your patients likely know very little about what physical therapy can do for their pain. Even though most patients want a quick fix, it’s imperative that you educate them on the need for a long term pain management solution through therapy, rather than just a pill to mask the pain.

Educate Them About the Risks of Opioid Addiction

Stressing the risks of opioids is important because many patients may be unaware of the effects of opioids or the increasing addiction problem among chronic pain sufferers. There’s no need to scare your patients, but just by making them aware of the possible dangers, you can help them determine safer alternatives.

Focus on Improving Function Rather Than Masking Pain 

By following these measures and ultimately helping your patients get back to the pain-free lives they desire, physical therapists have the opportunity to prevent opioid usage and abuse and ultimately save thousands of people from addiction and death.

Great healers like you are joining together to help patients “Choose PT” over opioids. You can join the cause today by keeping your patients educated and helping them understand the value of physical therapy and pain management. You can also help by spreading the word via social media and on your website. You have the power to save thousands of lives from opioid addiction, all from within your practice.