Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Month may take place in September, but the conversations it encourages should continue throughout the year. For chiropractors, the opportunity extends beyond raising awareness about medication risks. It includes helping patients understand appropriate conservative care options, building relationships with other healthcare professionals, and making reliable health information easier for the community to find.
In the September 2026 ChiroSecure Live presentation, Dr. Sherry McAllister, president of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), asks chiropractors to consider what comes next. Her message is practical: share credible resources, engage with the community, communicate the value of evidence-informed care, and keep patients at the center of every healthcare decision.
Watch the Presentation: What’s Next After Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Month?
Dr. McAllister reviews September’s outreach activities, discusses opportunities for chiropractic to engage with broader audiences, and previews the transition to October’s global chiropractic awareness efforts.
Prefer to read along? Download or read the presentation transcript.
Transcript note: The original publisher advises that the transcript may contain spelling or grammatical errors.
Why Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Should Continue All Year
Awareness campaigns can introduce patients to treatment options they may not have considered. However, a campaign has greater long-term value when it leads to informed conversations, appropriate clinical evaluation, and continued access to reliable resources.
In the presentation, Dr. McAllister emphasizes patient choice and the importance of discussing non-drug approaches to pain management. She also encourages chiropractors to collaborate with other healthcare professionals rather than position chiropractic as a replacement for the rest of the healthcare system.
That distinction matters. Drug-free pain management does not mean that medication is never appropriate. It means that clinicians and patients should consider the available options, potential benefits, risks, and individual circumstances when making treatment decisions.
For example, the American College of Physicians recommends several nonpharmacologic approaches for adults with low back pain. Depending on whether the pain is acute, subacute, or chronic, these approaches may include exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, mindfulness-based interventions, and spinal manipulation, among other options. The recommendations differ by clinical presentation and do not establish that one treatment is appropriate for every patient.
Read the F4CP Website.
Three Messages Chiropractors Can Reinforce
Dr. McAllister highlights three words that help frame the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress’s public-facing message: prevent, optimize, and alleviate. These concepts can help chiropractors communicate with patients without reducing every conversation to pain alone.
1. Prevent: Encourage informed everyday choices
Prevention-oriented conversations can address movement habits, physical activity, posture, work demands, and the ways people carry out daily tasks. The aim is to help patients recognize potentially modifiable factors and make informed choices that fit their circumstances.
In the presentation, Dr. McAllister describes outreach during New York Fashion Week that used handbags, backpacks, posture, and daily carrying habits as accessible conversation starters. She also discusses a study comparing the biomechanical effects of different bag types.
The practical lesson is that everyday activities can create opportunities for patient education. However, a discussion about biomechanics should not become a claim that a particular accessory causes injury or that changing bags will prevent pain in every person. Specific research findings should be verified against the original study before clinicians use them in patient-facing materials.
2. Optimize: Talk about function and participation
Pain is important, but patients may also want to improve mobility, return to valued activities, manage physical demands, or participate more fully in work and family life.
Ask patients what they want to do more comfortably and which functional changes would matter most to them. Use those goals to guide assessment, shared decision-making, treatment planning, and follow-up.
Where appropriate, incorporate exercise, self-management education, and other evidence-supported strategies into a broader care plan. Explain what a particular intervention can reasonably be expected to accomplish, and reassess progress rather than assuming that continued treatment is always necessary.
3. Alleviate: Discuss appropriate care options
When patients seek help for back pain, neck pain, or other musculoskeletal complaints, they may not know which treatment options are available. Chiropractors can help by explaining their assessment, discussing reasonable conservative options, and clarifying when referral or collaborative care may be appropriate.
Evidence-informed care requires more than promoting a preferred treatment. It means considering the patient’s presentation, relevant research, clinical expertise, preferences, potential risks, and response to care.
For additional context, see the peer-reviewed guideline Best Practices for Chiropractic Management of Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain. It addresses assessment, informed consent, nonpharmacologic management, self-management, and appropriate referral or comanagement.
Five Practical Ways to Extend the Campaign Into Everyday Practice
In her presentation, Dr. McAllister encourages chiropractors to share resources, communicate with other professionals, and participate in conversations outside their usual clinical settings. The following steps translate that message into a manageable practice plan.
1. Share one useful educational resource each week
Choose a resource that addresses a question patients commonly ask. It might explain conservative approaches to low back pain, encourage safe movement, or help patients prepare for a healthcare appointment.
- Publish a short educational post on your practice’s website or social media channels.
- Include a link to the original source when discussing research or clinical recommendations.
- Use clear language and distinguish established findings from preliminary evidence.
- Invite patients to discuss how the information applies to their own circumstances.
2. Make patient education part of the clinical conversation
Awareness should not depend entirely on social media or special events. A clinical encounter can provide an opportunity to discuss the patient’s goals, explain available options, and answer questions about benefits and risks.
Useful questions include:
- What activities are you finding difficult because of your symptoms?
- What would you most like to improve?
- What treatments have you already tried, and how did you respond?
- What questions do you have about the available treatment options?
These questions encourage shared decision-making and help the clinician understand the patient’s priorities before recommending a plan.
3. Build relationships with other healthcare professionals
Dr. McAllister uses the example of chiropractic in sports performance to illustrate how professional relationships can expand opportunities for care. She describes chiropractic as one part of a broader team rather than a substitute for medicine, physical therapy, or athletic training.
Chiropractors can apply that principle in their own communities. Get to know local primary care clinicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and other professionals whose services may complement your scope of practice.
Effective collaboration depends on clear communication, appropriate referrals, informed consent, and respect for each professional’s role. Share relevant clinical information with proper authorization, and coordinate care when the patient’s needs call for it.
4. Use research to improve conversations, not to overpromise
Research can help clinicians explain why a treatment may be appropriate, what outcomes have been studied, and where uncertainty remains. It can also identify questions that current evidence has not yet answered.
In the September presentation, Dr. McAllister discusses the VERDICT trial, or Veterans’ Response to Dosage in Chiropractic Therapy. She describes research examining two practical questions in veterans with chronic low back pain: whether a lower or higher number of chiropractic visits over 10 weeks produces different outcomes, and whether scheduled monthly care differs from no scheduled maintenance care over the subsequent 10 months.
These are research questions, not conclusions. The presentation describes the studies as ongoing and anticipates forthcoming peer-reviewed publications. Do not present the anticipated results as established findings. Before using the trial to support a clinical recommendation, verify the published results, study design, outcomes, limitations, and applicability to the patient in question.
5. Participate in broader community conversations
Dr. McAllister encourages chiropractors to share public education materials, engage with local organizations, and take part in conversations where people make decisions about movement, physical activity, and health.
Consider these practical activities:
- Share a reputable educational resource in your patient newsletter.
- Offer a short community presentation on musculoskeletal health or safe movement.
- Exchange educational materials with other healthcare professionals.
- Use appropriate awareness graphics from professional organizations.
- Review patient questions and community feedback to identify future educational topics.
Keep outreach factual and patient-centered. Avoid guarantees of results, unsupported comparisons with medication, or claims that chiropractic care eliminates the need for medical evaluation.
From September Awareness to October’s Global Chiropractic Message
The presentation also looks ahead to October’s Global Chiropractic Health Awareness Month activities and the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress’s wider communication efforts. Dr. McAllister encourages practitioners, students, associations, and colleges to use available educational materials and help make credible information easier for the public to access.
For current campaign materials, visit the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress campaign resources. Check the organization’s current materials and usage guidance before distributing graphics or other assets.
Dr. McAllister also discusses The Adjusted Reality podcast, media coverage, and the international expansion of her book, Adjusted Reality: Supercharge Your Whole-being for Optimal Living and Longevity. These examples reinforce her central point: effective public education takes repeated communication, relevant resources, and participation from many people and organizations.
Chiropractors do not need to create an entirely new campaign every month. A consistent schedule of accurate, useful educational content can help keep conversations going after an awareness event ends.
How to Evaluate Whether Your Outreach Is Working
Community education should be more than a series of posts. A simple review process can help a practice learn which topics are useful and where communication needs improvement.
- Engagement: Which educational resources receive meaningful questions, shares, or responses?
- Understanding: Can patients explain the options discussed and the purpose of their care plan?
- Access: Are patients able to find the resources and follow-up information you recommend?
- Collaboration: Are communication and referral pathways with other clinicians becoming clearer?
- Clinical relevance: Does the information reflect current evidence, the patient’s presentation, and appropriate professional scope?
These measures can guide improvement, but engagement metrics alone do not establish better health outcomes. Keep clinical outcome assessment separate from marketing performance, and protect patient privacy when reviewing or reporting results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Drug-Free Pain Management Awareness Month?
It is an awareness initiative intended to increase public understanding of the risks associated with inappropriate reliance on pain medication and the availability of nonpharmacologic approaches to pain management. The September ChiroSecure presentation focuses on extending that conversation through patient education, professional collaboration, and community outreach.
Does drug-free pain management mean patients should never use medication?
No. Medication may be appropriate depending on the condition, clinical circumstances, and patient’s needs. Drug-free pain management emphasizes awareness of nonpharmacologic options and informed decision-making, not a blanket prohibition on medication or advice to discontinue a prescribed treatment.
What role can chiropractors play in conservative pain management?
Chiropractors can assess patients within their professional scope, discuss appropriate conservative care options, support self-management, monitor progress, and coordinate care or refer patients when indicated. Treatment choices should reflect clinical findings, current evidence, patient preferences, and relevant risks.
What is the VERDICT trial investigating?
In the September 2026 presentation, Dr. McAllister describes trials examining chiropractic visit dosage and scheduled monthly maintenance care for veterans with chronic low back pain. The questions concern treatment frequency and outcomes. Clinicians should consult the resulting peer-reviewed publications before drawing conclusions or changing practice based on these studies.
How can a chiropractic practice participate in awareness activities year-round?
Practices can share credible educational resources, discuss treatment options during appointments, collaborate with local healthcare professionals, provide community education, and review whether their communications answer common patient questions. Consistent, evidence-informed outreach can extend the value of a campaign beyond September.
Keep the Conversation Going
Dr. Sherry McAllister’s message is that awareness requires action. September can start a conversation about drug-free pain management, but patient education, responsible communication, and collaboration should continue throughout the year.
For chiropractors, the next step is practical: share one useful resource, have one meaningful conversation, strengthen one professional relationship, or review one clinical question against the evidence. Small, consistent actions can help patients better understand their options while keeping care individualized and collaborative.
For additional professional practice resources, explore ChiroSecure’s chiropractic malpractice insurance information. Learn about available coverage and practice-protection options as part of a broader approach to responsible practice management.
Educational disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical, legal, or insurance advice. Clinical decisions should reflect individual assessment, current evidence, professional scope, and patient preferences. Patients should consult an appropriate healthcare professional about their circumstances and should not discontinue prescribed medication without guidance from the prescribing clinician.