Efficacy of Acupuncture for Psychological Symptoms Associated with Opioid Addiction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This review systematically assessed the clinical evidence for and against acupuncture as a treatment for psychological symptoms associated with opioid addiction. The database was accessed from MEDLINE and China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database. We included all randomized clinical trials published in Chinese and English regardless of their controls. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan software, version 5.2. We conducted a literature search of 16 databases from their inception to January 2014. Four studies from Western countries did not report any clinical gains in the treatment of psychological symptoms associated with opioid addiction. 10 of 12 studies from China have reported positive findings regarding the use of acupuncture to treat the psychological symptoms associated with opioid addiction. The methodological quality of the included studies was poor. The meta-analysis indicated that there was a significant difference between the treatment group and the control group for anxiety and depression associated with opioid addiction, although groups did not differ on opioid craving. This review and meta-analysis could not confirm that acupuncture was an effective treatment for psychological symptoms associated with opioid addiction. However, considering the potential of acupuncture demonstrated in the included studies, further rigorous randomized controlled trials with long followup are warranted.

Auricular acupuncture for substance use: a randomized controlled trial of effects on anxiety, sleep, drug use and use of addiction treatment services

“…Ten out of twelve studies from China did however report positive findings and found a significant difference between treatment groups and control groups for anxiety and depression associated with opioid addiction. The methodological quality of the studies included was considered poor [ 23 ]. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of two versions of auricular acupuncture in a large randomized clinical trial.…”

Effects of Electroacupuncture on Methamphetamine-Induced Behavioral Changes in Mice

“…Several studies have suggested that acupuncture ameliorates the effects of drug abuse. However, some studies have provided contradictory results [13, 14]: therapeutic effects of acupuncture on drug addiction are unclear, and the underlying mechanisms require further investigation [7, 15–17]. …”

Treatment of opioid dependence with buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual tablets: A phase 3 randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial

“…Opioid dependence and overdose continue to be public health problems in China (Boyuan et al, ; Doosti et al, ; Li & Li, ; Marienfeld et al, ). Treatment programs for opioid‐dependent patients in China include community drug rehabilitation, forced isolation treatment, community‐based rehabilitation, and community MMT.…”

“…Opioid dependence, most commonly manifested as heroin dependence, remains a serious public health issue in China and other countries in the world (Boyuan, Yang, Ke, Xueyong, & Sheng, ; Doosti, Dashti, Tabatabai, & Hosseinzadeh, ; Li & Li, ; Ling et al, ; Ling et al, ; Marienfeld et al, ; Marsch et al, ; Mattick, Breen, Kimber, & Davoli, ; Mokri, Chawarski, Taherinakhost, & Schottenfeld, ; Rosenthal et al, ). In 2015, 2.3 million people in China were registered drug addicts, 40% of whom were heroin users (China National Narcotic Control Committee, ).…”

“…Several programs have been instituted to reduce problems associated with the social issues of drug abuse and HIV transmission in China (Li & Li, ; Marienfeld et al, ). Limited medications are available in China to treat opioid dependence (Boyuan et al, ; Doosti et al, ; Li & Li, ; Marienfeld et al, ); new pharmacotherapies may be important in engaging and retaining individuals in treatment and reducing abuse (Li & Li, ; Ling et al, ; Marienfeld et al, ; Marsch et al, ).…”