A chiropractic adjustment, properly administered to correct misalignment and unlock stuck joints, will result in long-term pain relief and is definitely NOT addictive. Having said that, “popping” joints of the spine, otherwise known as spinal manipulation, can be addictive because it releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain killer. Manipulation of the spine often falls short because it does not make corrective changes in the spine, so the effects are only temporary. Popping the joints in the spine will always give temporary pain relief because of the release of endorphins, but the relief only lasts for a few hours at best, if the source of the pain (usually a misaligned vertebra) is not properly corrected.