Acupuncture heroin detoxification: A single-blind clinical trial

Acupuncture for Substance Abuse Treatment in the Dowtown Eastside of Vancouver

“…Among subjects returning to the clinic three or more times, the self-reported overall use of drugs declined during the study period, as did severity of withdrawal symptoms. Similar to other studies, 2,[8][9][10][11] we experienced a high rate of attrition among study subjects. Previous studies of community-based interventions have reported drop-out rates ranging from 34 2 to 75%.…”

“…Previous studies of community-based interventions have reported drop-out rates ranging from 34 2 to 75%. 9 A site report from the Residential Treatment Centre indicated that the acupuncture sessions interfered with the daily schedule of activities, preventing most clients from attending acupuncture sessions. Also, most of the clients had completed withdrawal from drugs and would not access acupuncture for alleviation of symptoms.…”

“…8 A similar study of 100 heroin users in San Francisco reported that subjects receiving acupuncture treatment attended a detoxification clinic more consistently than those receiving an acupuncture sham treatment. 9 Richard and colleagues reported that adjunct therapies, including acupuncture, were significantly associated with retention in treatment among crack/cocaine users compared with neurobehavioural treatment alone in a 30-day outpatient treatment program serving an indigent urban population in Texas. 2 Retention in treatment was significantly associated with reduction in cocainespecific urine metabolites.…”

Traditional Medicine and Complementary/Alternative Medicine in Primary Health Care: The Brazilian Experience

“…In the western societies, starting from the second half of the 20th century, acupuncture was assimilated by the contemporary medicine, and thanks to the scientific researches undertaken at several countries both eastern and western, their therapeutic effects were recognized and they have been explained gradually in scientific works published in 68 respected scientific magazines (Aune et al, 1998;Ballegaard et al, 1990;Bullock et al, 1989;David et al, 1998;Diehl, 1999;Dundee et al, 1987;Jobst et al, 1986;Joshi, 1992;Lao et al, 1995;Lee et al, 1992;Petrie & Hazleman, 1986;Vincent, 1989;Vilholm et al, 1998;Washburn et al, 1993;Wong et al, 1999). It is now admitted that the stimulation of acupuncture points provokes the release, in the Central Nervous System, of neurotransmitters and other substances responsible for the responses of pain relieve promotion, restoration of organic functions and immunity modulation.…”

Hypothesizing Synergy between Acupuncture/ Auriculotherapy and Natural Activation of Mesolimbic Dopaminergic Pathways: Putative Natural Treatment Modalities for the Reduction of Drug Hunger and Relapse

“…Oleson found that the combination of precipitous opiate withdrawal along with auriculotherapy was successful, with 86% of the patients withdrawing within five to seven days with a minimum of side effects. Currently the literature reveals a number of positive studies using acupuncture, ear acupuncture, or auriculotherapy including: smoking (He et al, 1997), alcoholism (Brewer, 1995; cocaine addiction (Otto et al, 1998), opiate addiction (Washburn et al, 1993) and SUD (Gurevish et al, 1996).…”