Although acupuncture itself has been around for thousands of years, treating addiction with acupuncture dated back to the early 1970’s (Otto, 2003).
In the research I read for this paper, I found information stating that a Dr. Wen in Hong Kong was researching the effects of acupuncture for post-surgical pain when Dr. Wen coincidentally found that applying electrical stimulation to the lung point in the ears relieved opiate withdrawal symptoms. The work of Dr. Wen led to the discovery of what became a hybrid of acupuncture.
In the U.S., Lincoln Hospital in South Bronx in New York City began a substance abuse program in 1974 where they would replace the methadone treatment with acupuncture (Otto, 2003).
The doctor who worked at Lincoln Hospital at the time, Dr. Michael Smith, developed a program replacing methadone treatment with acupuncture. Eventually over time Dr. Smith developed a simple and effective acupuncture protocol that eliminated patient’s withdrawal symptoms while decreasing relapse rates. Later on it expanded to treating drug, alcohol and smoking addictions.
The length of treatment was determined in general by the patient’s time and practice of substance abuse (Shwartz, 2000).
A common treatment guide would be that the substance abuse treatment would go for treatment for six months. The first month would generally be approximately 5 treatments a week, the second month of treatments would generally be three to 4treatments whereas the third to sixth months of treatment would be approximately 1-2 treatments a week.
The Essay on Illegal and Prescription Drug Abuse; How Do We Prevent It?
Drug abuse is a psychological or physical dependency with a mind altering substance1. There is continued drug use even though a person knows that the drug causes harm. Physical dependency is the result of the body building up a tolerance to the drug and needing to increase its dosage to have the effect desired and to prevent symptoms of withdrawal. Psychological dependence has something to do with ...
In the acupuncture treatment for substance abusers studies I read they indicated that psychological factors differences in results were very minimal if any difference at all (Zarelsky, 1976).
At least one of the article indicated that acupuncture treatment for substance abusers is better suited to some substances than others (Knox, 2007).
Dr. Michael Smith who works at a treatment center is South Bronx indicated that the treatment was better suited, for example for cocaine addicts vs. methadone addicts. Smith commented, “Unlike methadone for heroin addiction, which requires considerable structure and policing to guard against illicit heroin use, acupuncture can be available whenever a crack addict slips back into use” (Knox, 2007).
“Acupuncture advocates do not contend that the treatment is for every addict, or that acupuncture alone is going to break the shackles of addiction. Its main value, they say, is to ease addicts through the throes of detoxification without using any other drugs, and then, to reduce the craving for drugs so clients can focus on pulling their lives together” (Knox, 2007).
The statistic that I found stated that there are more than 800 treatment centers in the U.S. and Europe (Russell, 2000).
Data obtained from clinical studies of acupuncture in substance abuse treatment are controversial. Some research indicates that there is no clear evidence that acupuncture is any more effective than a placebo or the patient’s existing detoxification treatment (Kim, 2005).
The Term Paper on Use of Acupuncture for Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis
Lateral epiconylitis is a commonly encountered condition resulting from minor injury to the extensor muscles of the forearm, which originate from lateral epicondyle of humerus. This condition is characterized by pain and tenderness over the lateral epicondyle of humerus. Pain is typically present upon the resisted dorsiflexion of the wrist, middle finger or both (Buchbinder, Green & Struijs, ...
Overall, the result of most research I studied on the benefits of acupuncture on substance abuse found that their was not a great benefit to using acupuncture as the sole treatment of substance abuse. However, when acupuncture is used along or as an adjunctive therapy to complement existing methods of treating substance abuse there were possible benefits (Yoon-Hang, 2005).
However, acupuncture treatment was shown to be beneficial in suppressing alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as hypermotility, rigidity and tremors (Kim, 2005) along with other problems in general that individuals face when withdrawing from substances in general. This was shown to be the case in much of my reading.
The benefits to the substance abusers of acupuncture treatment Most research I read on acupuncture and substance abuse agreed with former president of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) who stated “There’s a significant body of research suggesting acupuncture could be useful as part of a comprehensive program for addiction. Dr. Williams also added that acupuncture is an integration into Western medicine as an enhancement rather than a replacement of current methods. “The use of acupuncture for addition is just another adjunct” (1997).
There are inconsistencies in the licensing requirements from state to state in the U.S. as far as the practice of acupuncture. In some states in the U.S., a person practicing acupuncture is required to have a Doctorate in Medicine. Other states require state licensing or national board certification. In one of the article I listed in my references I remember reading that acupuncture was performed by massage therapists in at least one state. Whereas other areas, an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist can perform the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association “auricular protocol in a supervised program” (Otto, 2003).
In most of the journal articles I read, the acupuncture treatment was acknowledged as being only a supplement to a substance abuser’s existing method of treating substance abuse. One of the limitations may be seen is that by no means is acupuncture a sole means of treating substance abuse problems. Other limitations are that it has shown to work better for some substances than others (Knox, 2007).
Fletcher, M (2002-2005).
The Review on The Impact of Parental Substance Abuse Upon Children
The first thing that needs to be examined is what substance abuse is. According to Kroll (2003), substance abuse can take many forms such as alcohol, drugs and polydrugs that lead to psychological, social and physical harm. Substances that fit in this category include: methadone, heroine, cocaine, crack, cannabis, ecstasy, and others. Child maltreatment is defined as abuse, neglect and acts of ...
Acupuncture Aids Those Recovering from Substance Abuse.
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Acupuncture treatment for opiate addiction: a systematic
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Kim, J., Chung, J., Young, K., Kwang, K. Yang, C., Hahm, D., Lee, H., Pyun, K. &
Shim, I. (2005).
Acupuncture Reduces Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome and c-Fos
Expression in Rat Brain. Retrieved April 05, 2007, from Health Reference Center
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Knox, R (2007).
Acupuncture is latest tool in stuggle with drug addiction. The Boston
Globe, 3rd Ed., Retrieved April 05, 2007, from
http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/libweb/elib/do/document?set=search&groupid=1
Kunz, S., Schulz, M., Lewitzky, M. Driessen, M. & Harold Rau. (March 2007).
Alchoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Retrieved April 7, 2007, from
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Otto, K. (2003).
Acupuncture and Substance Abuse: A Synopsis, with Indications for
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Via Thomson Gale: http://find.galegroup.com
Russell, L. (2000).
Accupuncture for addicted patients with chronic histories of arrest: a
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Shwartz, M., & R. Saitz. (December 1999).
The Value of Acupuncture Detoxification
Programs in a Substance Abuse Treatment System. Retrieved April 5, 2007, from
The Essay on Kenyan Mining Project Retrieved April
Mining Development VS. Social Disruptions: Assessing Both The Social Benefits & Social Costs of Titanium Extraction Efforts in Kenya With what was initially thought to be a feasible resource extraction proposal, has in turn lead to an onslaught of both economic and social uncertainties among more then five thousand Kenyans. Tiomin Resources, a Canadian based mining company, has shown a ...
Health Reference Center Academic via Thomson Gale: http://find.galegroup.com
Yoon-Hang, K (2005).
Efficacy of Acupuncture for treating cocaine addiction: A review
paper. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 24:4, Retrieved April 06, 2007, from
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=12&sd=93384ab4-e0e2-4b22
Zarelsky, H., Lee, M. and M. Rubin. (1976).
Psychological factors and clinical
Observations in acupuncture analgesia and pain abatement. Journal of
Psychology, 93:1, Retrieved April 05, 2007, from Health Reference Center
Academic via Thomson Gale: http://find.galegroup.com
