Acupuncture for the Treatment of Cocaine Addiction

Abstract

Within the clinical context of this study, acupuncture was not more effective than a needle insertion or relaxation control in reducing cocaine use. Our study does not support the use of acupuncture as a stand-alone treatment for cocaine addiction or in contexts in which patients receive only minimal concurrent psychosocial treatment. Research will be needed to examine acupuncture's contribution to addiction treatment when provided in an ancillary role.

Comparison of Treatments for Cocaine Use Disorder Among Adults

“…In total, 1580 records were identified, and 831 records were screened; of those, 305 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. After exclusions, 157 studies (18.9%) with 402 treatment groups and 15 842 participants were included in the meta-analysis . The PRISMA diagram shows detailed information on the number of ineligible studies and the reasons for exclusion (Figure).…”

“…After exclusions, 157 studies (18.9%) with 402 treatment groups and 15 842 participants were included in the meta-analysis. 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 , ...…”

Auricular acupuncture as an adjunct to opiate detoxification treatment: Effects on withdrawal symptoms

“…The results of this study are consistent with the findings of a number of other studies that failed to find any effect of acupuncture in the treatment of drug dependence (Wells et al, 1995;Bullock et al, 1999;Margolin et al, 2002). The limited number of randomized treatment studies that have been conducted on this intervention has failed to demonstrate clinical gains when acupuncture was provided either as a stand-alone treatment or when given alongside conventional treatment (Gates, Smith, & Foxcroft, 2006).…”

Promising results of auriculoacupuncture in the treatment of cancer pain

“…Yet despite this, they showed a clear difference between their ‘active’ point specific treatment and the two control groups. This is fascinating and contrasts with some other data on auriculoacupuncture for addictions, 1 , 2 where point specificity has not been found to make much difference in auriculotherapy. They showed an unusually clear difference between the active treatment and the 2 control groups and an advantage in terms of pain relief as based on the change in mean pain intensity from baseline to 2 months.…”