---
title: "NEW STUDY: CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCTION IN OPIOID USE DISORDER"
description: Discover how chiropractic care can significantly reduce the risk of opioid use disorder in adults with low back pain, based on a groundbreaking study.
image: https://www.helpmychronicpain.com/hubfs/images/DFPMAM-Total-Deaths.jpeg
---
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## Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson's Chronic Condition Natural Treatment Blog
*Intentional musings of a unique Shelby Township Michigan Chiropractic Physician dedicated to helping people find solutions to improving their health by rooting out causes to chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, stubborn thyroid disorder symptoms, balance disorders, chronic knee & shoulder pain, migraines, sciatica, ADD/ADHD/ASD, back pain, peripheral neuropathy, gluten sensitivity and autoimmune disorders so they can Reclaim Their Life!*
# From the Desk of Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC.....
## [NEW STUDY: CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCTION IN OPIOID USE DISORDER](https://www.helpmychronicpain.com/blog/new-study-chiropractic-associated-with-reduction-in-opioid-use-disorder)
Posted by [Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC](https://www.helpmychronicpain.com/blog/author/dr-karl-ros-johnson-dc) on Tue, Nov 04, 2025
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## *Study Highlights Chiropractic’s Value as a First-Line Non-Pharmacological Option for Low Back Pain *
A new multi-institutional study, led by [University Hospitals Connor Whole Health](https://www.uhhospitals.org/services/integrative-health-network), found that adults with newly diagnosed low back pain with or without sciatica who initially received spinal manipulative therapy administered by a chiropractor were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with opioid use disorder over a two-year follow-up compared to those prescribed ibuprofen. The study suggests an association between spinal manipulative therapy and a lower risk of opioid use disorder in this population, highlighting its potential value as a first-line non-pharmacological option for low back pain amid the ongoing opioid crisis.
[Published in Health Science Reports](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hsr2.71267), this retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the United States’ TriNetX Research Network, including more than 49,000 matched patients from 2015 to 2025. Researchers found that only 0.24 percent of patients in the spinal manipulative therapy cohort were diagnosed with opioid use disorder within two years, compared to 1.51 percent in the ibuprofen cohort. This translated to an 80 percent lower risk of opioid use disorder among spinal manipulative therapy recipients.
Additionally, spinal manipulative therapy recipients were 77 percent less likely to experience long-term opioid use and 31 percent less likely to receive any opioid prescription compared to matched controls initially receiving ibuprofen.
“While prior studies showed that spinal manipulative therapy is associated with a lower likelihood of receiving opioid prescriptions, our study is the first to directly examine opioid use disorder,” said [Robert Trager, DC](https://www.uhhospitals.org/services/integrative-health-network/meet-the-team/chiropractic-team/robert-trager-dc), lead author of the study and Director of [Chiropractic Medicine](https://www.uhhospitals.org/services/integrative-health-network/our-services/chiropractic) at UH Connor Whole Health.
The study focused on opioid-naïve adults aged 18 and older with a new episode of low back pain, excluding those with prior opioid use disorder, opioid prescriptions, and serious pathologies like cancer or fractures. Patients were sorted into two cohorts based on the initial care received for low back pain:
1. Those receiving spinal manipulative therapy administered by chiropractors, and,
2. Those prescribed ibuprofen in an outpatient setting without spinal manipulative therapy
A statistical technique called propensity score matching was used to balance the groups on demographics, and risk factors for opioid use disorder such as mood disorders, substance use history, and other factors.
“At UH Connor Whole Health, we continue to study the impact of non-pharmacological treatments to reduce the use of opiates for common pain conditions,” said Kristi Artz, MD, MS, FACLM, Vice President of UH Connor Whole Health and Sara H. Connor Chair in Integrative Health.
According to Roshini Srinivasan, MD, co-author and resident physician at Duke University Hospital, “It is equally encouraging and exciting to demonstrate a growing evidence base for chiropractic care contributing potential solutions to pain in the context of the opioid epidemic.”
The researchers noted limitations common to observational studies, including potential residual confounding and reliance on real-world electronic health records, which may have incomplete data. However, they emphasized that the findings corroborate clinical guidelines from organizations like the American College of Physicians and the US Centers for Disease Control, which recommend front-line non-pharmacologic options such as spinal manipulative therapy for low back pain.
The authors advocate for additional studies to investigate this topic and identify whether the observed differences are attributable to spinal manipulative therapy itself or to broader factors like patient-provider interactions in non-pharmacological care settings.
[ ](https://www.helpmychronicpain.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLK1B9B9XMqbhMPraWjIDJt1Oz%2BOdrA0TAqeM52AFpPr9oCaPK%2FaWO%2BqjVsUzSHEh5N6EjtmQx5aSjRgQ2eYorNrPfkxjMW2zjqwJczPgS%2FN1N1Nnuc%2FqgnxafMa0LEkuU%2FAo0IDemhYVOqeKdgib8zx%2BlfL5bp2dbl%2B42mHOLqF%2FHWaW1MbFE6D%2FvozhmNm&webInteractiveContentId=198884999551&portalId=67234)
Please spread the word and inspire others to take control of their health and wellness.
To learn more, [check out what makes my philosophy unique](https://www.helpmychronicpain.com/what-makes-me-unique/) among healthcare providers.
---
Always remember one of my mantras, "The more you know about how your body works, the better you can take care of yourself."
For more details about the natural approach I take with my patients, take a look at the book I wrote entitled: [Reclaim Your Life; Your Guide To Revealing Your Body's Life-Changing Secrets For Renewed Health](https://www.helpmychronicpain.com/reclaim-your-life/). It is available in my office or at [Amazon](http://amzn.to/TmPgZW) and many other book outlets. If you found value in this article, **please use the social sharing icons at the top of this post and please share with those you know** who are still suffering with chronic health challenges, despite receiving medical management. Help me reach more people so they may regain their zest for living! Thank you!
## ALL THE BEST – [DR. KARL R.O.S. JOHNSON, DC](https://www.helpmychronicpain.com/about-me) – DIGGING DEEPER TO FIND SOLUTIONS
*Sources**:*
*University Hospitals News Release, “New Study Led by University Hospitals Connor Whole Health Shows Chiropractic Care Associated with Reduction in Opioid Use Disorder,” October 3, 2025*
*Trager RJ, Cupler ZA, Gliedt JA, Fischer RA, Srinivasan R, Thorfinnson H. Association Between Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Low Back Pain With or Without Sciatica and Opioid Use Disorder: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Health Sci Rep 2025; 8: e71267. *[*https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hsr2.71267*](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hsr2.71267)
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Notice: Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC, BCN, DNMSc, FICPA, FIFHI is state licensed by the chiropractic board in Michigan to provide conventional chiropractic health care services and is also certified by the International Association of NeuroMetabolic Professionals to provide natural health services and therapies. The services provided to clients are intended to improve the adaptive physiology of the client through nutritional, exercise, lifestyle and physiological education, information, recommendations, and training. Conventional chiropractic and neurometabolic services are completely separate services and each is provided in strict compliance with the rules and regulations set forth by the separate agencies. If you wish to receive natural health services you must first sign a Client Services Agreement.