What opioid-related death rate does the speaker cite for the U.S. in 2021?

Jeff LangmaidFounder, The Evidence Based Chiropractor

Opioids for Sciatica? The HARD Truth No One Talks About

8 Mar 2025 · 1 min

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0:48

Jeff Langmaid argues that opioids are commonly used for musculoskeletal pain—including sciatica—despite little or no evidence of effectiveness. He emphasizes the high harms (addiction, dependency, overdose, death) and cites a CDC figure that opioid-related deaths in the U.S. reached 25 per 100,000 people in 2021, noting COVID-era prescription changes may have affected trends.

Questions this video answers

25 per 100,000 people (2021, cited as from the CDC).

Chapters

So let's start with the big picture. Opioids have long been a go to treatment for musculoskeletal pain, including sciatica, despite limited non existent evidence supporting any sort of effectiveness whatsoever. High harms, low effectiveness. Where's the Hippocratic Oath? I do not know, but it is a massive problem. Opioids, as you are very well aware, come with massive risks. Addiction, dependency, overdose, death. And the latest data from the CDC shows that opioid related deaths in the US reached 25 per 100,000 people in 2021. Interesting number there, 2021. Because we know that there was some effect of what went on with COVID and how opioid prescriptions, let's say, evolved.