Back Pain in Teens Linked to Substance Use and Mental Health Issues

Teens with back pain are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, and face mental problems such as anxiety and depression, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the Journal of Public Health. 

The findings showed that with increased frequency of pain the proportion of participants reporting increased smoking, drinking, and absence from school.

Key findings:

~ Students that experienced pain more than once a week were around twice as likely to have missed school in the previous term.

~ 14- to-15-year-olds who experienced pain more than once a week were two-to-three times more likely to have drunk alcohol or smoked in the past month than those who rarely or never had pain.

This should be a reminder not to dismiss the teens complaining of pain as 'trivial or fleeting'

Chiropractic care can help.

A study earlier this year showed that teens with chronic back pain undergoing 12 weeks of spinal manipulation (adjustments) and exercise do better than exercise alone. The relief lasted over a year's time.


https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pubmed/fdy129/5057774?rss=1
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-09/oupu-bpi091018.php
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29596158

Disclaimer

Material on this blog is provided for informational purposes only. It is general information that may not apply to you as an individual, and is not a substitute for your own doctor’s medical care or advice.

Reading this blog should not  be construed to mean that you and I have a patient-physician relationship. 

The inclusion of any link does not imply my endorsement of the linked site or its affiliates, 

NEVER DISREGARD MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE.