Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor • June 2022 • News and events

From March 2020 to April 2021, there were over 6,900 apparent opioid toxicity deaths in Canada and over 75,600 in the United States, the highest annual toll on record.

In response to the opioid toxicity death toll, the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) and the Ontario Chiropractic Association (OCA) developed an online course to help practitioners safeguard patients’ health and foster collaboration with prescribing professionals in managing, reducing, or eliminating opioid dependency.

Chronic pain often requires multiple approaches. Recognizing the high-contact role that chiropractors and other manual therapists may have with chronic pain patients, this continuing education course is a guide to identifying and managing issues through collaborative relationships with other health care providers and patient dialogue.

Using 3D character animation, the course illustrates identifiable patterns and suggests optimal scenarios in engaging patients and their health care providers. It supports the significant conversations between patients and their providers that lead to optimal outcomes.

“This course provides the most current information about opioids and tools to recognize and address suspected opioid intoxication and misuse,” says Dr. Cuong Ngo-Minh, course co-author and physician at Ottawa’s Somerset West Community Health Centre.

This new online educational resource will help chiropractors and other manual therapists increase their competency in case outreach, facilitate communication with other health care professionals, and provide quality of care to patients who suffer from chronic pain.

“It’s common knowledge that chiropractors can improve their patient’s level of functioning. This program also underscores the important role they can play in preventing the addictive spiral that can occur with opioid use and helps them to appreciate their role in the multidisciplinary care of patients,” explains Dr. David Wickes, President, CMCC.

Interactive simulation and learning assessments are used in the four chapters of the course, titled The Role of Chiropractic in Opioid Use Reduction:

“This course is a key component of our comprehensive resources within the OCA Opioid and Pain Reduction Collaborative,” says Caroline Brereton, CEO, OCA. “We’re proud to work with CMCC to have a significant impact on many lives.”

This practical course was developed by CMCC, an international leader in academic scholarship and training. It was produced in partnership with the OCA, which represents 80 per cent of Ontario chiropractors and is a leader in finding practical solutions to address the opioid crisis.

In one of our recent issues, CND published Dr. Anthony Lombardi’s column about chiropractors in pro sports. The RCCSS(C) and the Board of Directors would like to clarify some points about Chiropractors in Sport in Canada.

A chiropractic specialty is recognized by The Federation of Canadian Chiropractic (FCC) in the areas of sports sciences, orthopedics, radiology, physical rehabilitation and clinical sciences. A chiropractic specialist is someone who has attained post-graduate qualifications in one or more areas of chiropractic specialties and are acknowledged as a Fellow. These programs include written and practical requirements, as well as a comprehensive Fellowship examination. The Chiropractic Sports Sciences specialty has been an influential part of Canada’s sports health care community since 1984. The Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences (Canada) (RCCSS(C)) exists now as the largest post-graduate organization for chiropractic sports sciences in the world and is an equal player in Canada’s sports medicine system. Furthermore, it has become the key provider for political and inter-professional relationships for the Canadian Chiropractic Association with the various sport communities both in Canada and internationally. As the recognized chiropractic sport specialty in Canada, the RCCSS(C) has numerous Fellows involved in formal (paid) leadership/therapist roles with Canadian (Olympic) National Sport Organizations (NSOs) and professional leagues in North America. Those who pursue specialist education and training do so because they wish to elevate their knowledge, capability and collaborative sensibilities to the highest level for the benefit of the athletes who receive their care. We don’t believe any of the Chiropractors inter viewed had their FRCCSS(C) and furthermore it is not accurate to suggest the CCSP is equivalent to an FRCCSS(C).

While fair compensation remains an interesting topic to discuss, sport specialists in Canada also have a great responsibility as experts for health policy/advocacy, research, and leadership which obviously go beyond simple remuneration. The RCCSS(C) is at the forefront of sports medicine in Canada and sits at the table with influential organizations and stakeholders to ensure that athletes have access to sports chiropractic care while our members work together to improve fair compensation strategies for the collective.

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