Local newspapers often print thoughtful Letters to the Editor as long as you follow their guidelines. A variety of doctors submitting different letters on a regular basis will help highlight chiropractic as a solution to the opioid epidemic. Follow these steps:

1. Choose a sample letter idea below and edit to make it your own. Remember, the papers will prefer letters with a professional tone that expresses an opinion without appearing to be self-promoting. They won’t want anything that appears to be a template letter. Include an interesting statistic when possible.
2. Follow your newspaper’s guidelines. Papers generally limit letters to 300 words or less. They also want a full name and address of the writer. Most have a submission form or email address for letters.
3. Send a copy of your letter to the OSCA Opioid Task Force.

Letter Ideas to Edit & Make Your Own

Letter #1
Thank you for your coverage of the opioid epidemic. As a practicing doctor of chiropractic, I have found myself on the front lines working to reduce the dependency of opioids and other medications commonly used for pain relief. Consistent with state and national guidelines for pain treatment, patients should try conservative non-drug treatment first for pain relief. Treatments like chiropractic manipulation, rehab exercises, ice or heat therapy, and nutrition counseling can often provide effective relief without the safety issues.

Letter #2
While solutions for addressing the opiate epidemic have largely focused on modifying prescription habits and providing medications that reduce addiction, it’s important to recognize non-drug treatments that can be as effective for pain without the same level of risks of dependency and abuse. Conservative treatments like chiropractic manipulation and physiotherapies can be helpful to not only prevent patients from requiring medication in the first place, but also help those reduce their dependency on medications.

Letter #3
I would like to draw your readers’ attention to recently published back treatment guidelines by the American College of Physicians (ACP) that I have not seen in your coverage of the opioid epidemic. ACP guidelines, based on the latest research, recommended doctors direct patients to non-drug back treatments like chiropractic manipulation, yoga, and heat therapy before using medications. These guidelines are intended to help combat the opioid epidemic, which has hit Ohio especially hard. Our community is fortunate to have a wealth of chiropractic physicians and natural health practitioners that those in pain should put to good use.

Letter #4
As you have reported, opioid abuse and addiction continues to cause significant harm to our community. However, state and national guidelines have highlighted an underutilized solution to help manage acute and chronic pain: non-drug treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) all have asked doctors to move from opioid use toward non-drug approaches to address chronic pain. The American College of Physicians recently released guidelines for the treatment of back pain recommending non-drug treatment like chiropractic spinal manipulation as first-line treatment before medications. I would encourage members of our community to seek non-drug treatment for pain first before trying medications, and avoid starting down the road to drug addiction, abuse, or even death.

Letter #5
Recently released medical guidelines by the ACP, join Ohio Acute Pain Guidelines and guidelines from the CDC, IOM, and FDA recommending non-drug treatments for pain as a way to combat the opioid abuse and death that has ravaged Ohio more than any other state in the nation. Our community should do more to promote the use of non-drug treatments like chiropractic, acupuncture, exercise, and nutrition as an effective solution to the opioid epidemic.

Letter #6
One of the little discussed solutions in your extensive coverage of opioid addiction, is nonpharmacologic treatment. The best way to avoid drug addiction is to avoid drugs in the first place. Doctors should direct more patients to nonpharmacologic treatment for pain and more patients need to ask their doctors for this option first, which is recommended by evidence-based medical guidelines.

Letter #7
For those in our community suffering with chronic pain, chiropractic care offers a drug-free, non-invasive and cost-effective alternative to opioid drugs. Medical guidelines are finally promoting non-drug approaches like chiropractic first for pain over prescription medications or surgery. More patients are seeking natural care, but still look for approval from their primary medical doctor first. Let’s recognize chiropractic as an effective solution to the opioid epidemic and take action to help patients receive the care they need.

Letter #8
I hope to see my medical colleagues help more patients find non-drug treatment like chiropractic and acupuncture to manage their painful neuromusculoskeletal conditions as recommended in recent medical treatment guidelines. 80% of heroin addicts started with prescribed medications. It’s time for a different approach that no longer emphasizes medication or surgery for pain. Non-drug treatments can help a lot of these patients, and should be tried first.

Letter #9
Medical treatment guidelines from state and federal agencies, as well as medical organizations now point to an important solution to the opioid crisis: non-drug treatment. Will doctors listen? Will physicians follow recommendations by the American College of Physicians? Will medical providers listen to recommendations by the Center for Disease Control and Institute of Medicine? Have doctors noticed Ohio’s Acute Pain Guidelines released in 2016? All recommend non-drug treatment like chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, and exercise as an alternative to medications and opioids. It’s time for a better approach: conservative care first.

Letter #10
Chiropractors can ease low back pain – News release
The Journal of the American Medical Association just published yet another new study supporting chiropractic spinal manipulation for acute low back pain. Published April 11, this new study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of 26 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) the “gold standard” in physical medicine. 15 of the RCTs revealed moderate quality evidence spinal manipulation resulted in a reduction of pain and 12 RCTs revealed spinal manipulation resulted in improved function. This study came on the heels of another systematic review and clinical guidelines from the American College of Physicians published in February of this year that also recommended chiropractic spinal manipulation. Last month in Washington, DC, at our annual business meeting, the American Chiropractic Association’s House of Delegates formally approved a resolution adopting the American College of Physician’s low back pain treatment guidelines in conjunction with the evidence-based, evidence informed, chiropractic specific clinical guidelines from the Clinical Compass. As Oregon and the nation struggle to overcome the opioid narcotic crisis, high level research supporting spinal manipulation for back pain should provide patients and health care providers confidence that chiropractic is an option helping to avoid the risks and dependency associated with pain pills. A 2012 report revealed that 30% of patients with neck or back pain sought care from a chiropractor with two other studies revealing chiropractic patients have the highest patient satisfaction ratings. Specializing in the diagnosis and management of back and neck pain, utilizing a hands-on drug free approach, doctors of chiropractic can help.

This was submitted by Vern Saboe, DC in Oregon and recommended for use by other DCs around the country.

Published Examples

Painkillers helped create opioid crisis by Dr. Pat Ensminger