With prescription drug abuse remaining unabated in the US, could holistic treatment modalities offer a way out? Dr. Kristen Poe (508-388-2853), a leading integrative treatment expert in Massachusetts, believes the shift is inevitable.
The subject of illicit drugs like fentanyl finding their way into the United States was a hot-button issue in the last election, and it continues to be one now. While many troubling statistics are associated with these types of drugs, one stat that's been flying below the radar - but is equally troubling - is that of the US's prescription drug abuse.
Unknown to many, some 16 million Americans abuse some form of prescription drug annually, according to the latest figures from the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. As expected, however, painkillers remain the most abused substance, with nearly 10 million saying they are hooked on them.
"The fact is that conditions like chronic pain are unendurable for a great many people, and so they try to fix it with what's readily available, which is prescription drugs," said Dr. Kristen Poe, a functional medicine and holistic health specialist in Massachusetts. "Of course, the long-term disadvantage of this route is dependence, and the bigger problem is that it's masking the root cause of the issue because only the symptoms are being given the attention."
The latest count from the CDC puts the number of Americans dealing with chronic pain at about 23 million. The same study also enumerates the effects of such a condition, with chronic pain being associated with reduced quality of life, increased risk of depression, and, of course, misuse of opioids.
"One thing to remember about opioids is that even when prescribed, they are highly addictive," said Dr. Poe, adding that over time, medications like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine also build tolerance, so individual users will require higher doses to achieve the same effect. "This is what can quickly lead someone to addiction because they're basically trapped in a cycle of increasing use and dependency."
For those looking to escape dependency, non-drug options are steadily gaining not only attention but also recognition from the medical and allied health communities. That’s why Dr. Poe has dedicated her entire career to the practice and advancement of these options in her native Shrewsbury.
In her practice, she creates highly tailored treatment plans comprising a number of holistic treatment modalities. “For chronic pain and conditions involving mobility, we recommend naprapathy or the Graston Technique, which are both non-drug and non-invasive therapies developed to deal with muscle pain and a host of other conditions, including headaches, sports injuries, sprains, and more,” Dr. Poe said.
The holistic health specialist added that while awareness of alternative treatment modalities remains a challenge, a growing number of Americans are starting to be receptive to their benefits and are walking in for consults.
“There’s certainly an uptick in inquiries and drop-ins,” she said. “And with the way the state of healthcare is headed in this country, more people exploring holistic treatments is an inevitability.”
