Last week Dr. M went to a weekend conference in New Jersey.  These are always exciting experiences for us.  Not only do we get to learn about new technology, new techniques, etc, but we also get the chance to spend time with other chiropractors from around the country (and world), some who are old friends, some whom we’ve just met, who have the same outlook on health and wellness that we do, and who are working in their communities to bring about a more positive, more effective message of health and wellness.  Some of you have met some a couple of these great doctors, Dr. Martha Nessler (who ran our Ladies Night for us) and, just last month, Dr. Cole Blume. 

At this last conference there was a break from normal arrangement of speakers, typically doctors, health and wellness experts, motivational gurus, researchers, etc.  In the midst of all the science, technology, health and wellness came out a gentleman who had never even been in a chiropractic office.  He was visibly nervous, he wasn’t a professional speaker.  Yet for the next hour he held the audience captive as he told the tragic story of his son, Wyatt.

Wyatt’s story sums up the reason that we come to the office everyday.  Every day thousands of kids and millions of adults are prescribed medications that are unnecessary.  In Wyatt’s case, the use of an antibiotic goes against the American Academy of Pediatric’s recommendation for ear infections.  (In fact, the chiropractic adjustment is a better, safer alternative to antibiotics! (Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics 1997 (Oct);   2 (2):   167–183).)  It is the nature of drugs that we don’t know when a reaction like Wyatt’s will occur.  The FDA, the CDC, and the drug companies themselves give us stats as to the safety of medications.  Why they don’t say is that, due to the bottom line and the almight dollar, they are willing to live with 1%, 5%, even 10% adverse reaction rates.  They call these drugs safe.

Unfortunately knowing that amoxicillin is “safe” is no comfort to Wyatt’s family.  When, as a society, we condone and prescribe millions upon millions of drugs every year, the shear numbers, even with only a 1% “bad” reaction rate, ensure that we have thousands of cases like Wyatt’s every year.  We don’t hear about them, they’re not published in the media or in the official stats.  Reactions to prescription drugs (not overdoses or accidents) are the 3rd leading cause of death in this country.  The only things that kills more people are heart attacks and cancer.  Yet we have no pink ribbons, or weekend walks, or yellow bracelets for it.  In the eyes of the medical/pharmaceutical industries it is simply the cost of doing business. 

I don’t want to live in a world that doesn’t have medications.  Yet I never want to have to take a medication and I never want any of my patients to have to take them either.  This is why we do what we do!  It is life or death!  Please, the next time you think about popping a little pill for a head ache, or a back pain, or a runny nose…..think about the consequences.  It is vitally important.  If you are on a medication, don’t stop.  Come talk to us about how we can work with your doctor to put together a plan for you to safely stop.