Individuals who sustain a traumatic injury are not likely a significant factor in the US opioid epidemic. This is the conclusion of a study presented (not yet published) at the 2016 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, as reported in HealthDay.

The study found that nearly 75 percent of patients who sustained major trauma and received a new opioid prescription, discontinued use 1 month after being discharged from the hospital. A year later, 1 percent of patients were still taking the prescribed painkillers.

“It appears that traumatic injury is not a main driver for continued opioid use in patients who were not taking opioids prior to their injuries,” said Andrew Schoenfeld, MD, senior investigator and orthopedic surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in an American College of Surgeons news release.

Researchers studied Department of Defense medical records on more than 15,300 patients, aged 16-84, who suffered severe injuries. None of those patients had filled an opioid prescription in the 6 months before they were injured. Researchers found that more than half filled opiate prescriptions after they left the hospital. Only 9 percent kept filling the prescription 3 months later, 4 percent at 6 months, and 1 percent at 1 year. Those who demonstrated a higher likeliness to continue use of opioids included older people and people of poorer economic backgrounds, as well as patients hospitalized for more than 2 weeks.

The American Physical Therapy Association launched a national campaign to raise awareness about the risks of opioids and the safe alternative of physical therapy for long-term pain management.

Avoid Addictive Opioids. Choose Physical Therapy for Safe Pain Management. #ChoosePT

No one wants to live in pain. But no one should put their health at risk in an effort to be pain free.

Since 1999, Americans have increasingly been prescribed opioids — painkillers like Vicodin, OxyContin, Opana, and methodone, and combination drugs like Percocet.

In some situations, dosed appropriately, prescription opioids are an appropriate part of medical treatment. However, opioid risks include depression, overdose, and addiction, plus withdrawal symptoms when stopping use. And people addicted to prescription opioids are 40 times more likely to become addicted to heroin.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging health care providers to reduce the use of opioids in favor of safe alternatives like physical therapy.

Don’t just mask the pain. Treat it.

Choose physical therapy to manage your pain without the risks and side effects of opioids.

Chautauqua Physical & Occupational Therapy is located inside the Riverwalk Center, 15 S. Main St., Suite 220, Jamestown, NY 14701 — 488-2322 — www.chautauquapt.com. We are celebrating 20 years of serving our community and are the only outpatient clinic in the area to offer FREE consultations. We are therapist owned and operated. The Live Well Center is our fitness center located on site. It is open to the public, clean and affordable. Call us to learn more about therapy or the Live Well Center and take charge of your health.  Our hours are: Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon.