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Table 7 Original investigations of acupuncture therapy effects in poly-drug and other substance abusers (NA not available)

From: Acupuncture therapy for drug addiction

Publication year; first author

Objectives

Subjects

Stimulated acupoints (acupuncture type, acupoints, frequency)

Assessments

Outcomes

2000

Russell [68]

To compare the behavior of addicts in a treatment center with archived information from no-acupuncture (NA) patients

86 Patients (Methamphetamine was the primary drug of choice for 44)

AA at 5 NADA points, 45 min for 9 weeks

Program retention, new arrests incurred, drug-positive urinalysis results, and number of days needed to progress from entry level to secondary level treatment

Acupuncture improved program retention up to 30 days among methamphetamine-addicted patients

2000

Song Bernstein [14]

To explore the meaning of substance abusers’ experience while receiving acupuncture as a part of the treatment for substance dependence

8 Human Subjects

AA, (NA), once a week

Interviews, researcher’s field notes, and demographic data obtained from the participants’ medical records

Acupuncture caused anticipation of pain, apprehension concerning a new experience, mood elevation, inability to describe the experience, physical sensation, relaxation, and improved sleep

2004

Berman [13]

To compare the experimental NADA-Acudetox protocol with a non-specific helix control protocol in a randomized trial

174 Inmates

Auricular acupuncture at 5 NADA points, 40 min for 4 weeks

A simple drug use questionnaire, the Acupuncture Treatment Assessment Scale (ATAS), a Swedish research version of the Symptom Check List 90

Acupuncture had no significant efficiency over the placebo

2005

Janssen [36]

To examine the utility of acupuncture treatment in reducing substance use in the marginalized, transient population

261 Humans

AA at 5 NADA points for 40 min

Questionnaire, Drug use symptomatology, severity of withdrawal symptoms

Acupuncture caused reduction in overall use of substances and decrease in intensity of withdrawal symptoms

2006

Tian [73]

To examine the efficacy of AA in addition to usual care in substance abuse treatment

17 Humans

AA at 5-points NADA, once a week for 6 consecutive weeks

The Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-20) depression scale, brief substance craving scale

there was a positive response to the specific auricular acupressure treatment on psychological distress, craving, and drug/alcohol use measures

2007

Courbasson and Christine [26]

To evaluate the benefits of adding AA to a 21-day outpatient structured psychoeducational treatment program

185 Women with concurrent substance use problems, anxiety, and depression

AA at 5 points NADA for 45 min, 3 times a week

Physiological cravings for substances, depression, and anxiety

AA as an adjunct therapy to a comprehensive psychoeducational treatment was effective and more viable treatment alternative to anxiolytics

2009

Ashton [9]

To describe the characteristics of clients choosing AA or counseling to treat dependence at a UK self-referral center

162 Humans, n = 36 acupuncture, n = 126 counselling

AA at 5-points NADA, 45 min, once a week for 11 weeks

Psychometric variables (anxiety, depression, dependence severity, readiness to change), and alcohol and drug consumption

Acupuncture was preferred by clients and follow up assessments showed a significant decrease in psychological distress and reduction of alcohol consumption

2014, 2010

Chang and Bei-Hung [23, 24]

Examine the effects of acupuncture and related response (RR) on reducing craving

23 Acupuncture, 23 RR, 21 controls (homeless military veterans)

AA at 5-points NADA, 45 min twice a week

Degree of craving and anxiety levels

acupuncture and the relaxation reduced craving and anxiety levels

2011

Black, S. [7]

To test the hypothesis if AA reduces the anxiety associated with withdrawal from psychoactive drugs.

101 Patients recruited from an addiction treatment service

AA at 5-points NADA 45 min for 3 days

Anxiety state by using a pretest–posttest treatment design

The NADA protocol was not more effective than sham or treatment setting control in reducing anxiety

2012

Janssen [35]

To test the ability of maternal acupuncture treatment among mothers who use illicit drugs to reduce the frequency and severity of withdrawal symptoms among their newborns

50 Women using acupuncture, 39 women standard care

AA at 5-points NADA for 45 min

Days of neonatal morphine treatment for symptoms of neonatal withdrawal. Neonatal outcomes included admission to a neonatal ICU and transfer to foster care

length of treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome showed no efficiency of acupuncture

2012

Penetar [66]

To investigate the effects of TEAS on drug addiction

9 Cocaine-dependent, 11 Cannabis-dependent

2 and 100 Hz at Neiguan (PC6)/Waiguan (TH5) and Hegu (LI4)/Laogong (PC8) stimulation, Twice-daily 30-minute sessions of for 3.5 days

Drug use and drug cravings, cue-induced craving EEG evaluation, and P300 ERP

TEAS did not reduce drug use or drug cravings, or alter the ERP peak voltage or latency but modulated several self reported measures of mood and anxiety

2014

Bergdah [12]

To describe patients’ experiences of receiving AA during protracted withdrawal

15 Human subjects

AA at 5-points NADA 40 min, twice a week for 5 weeks

Interview

AA reinforced sense of relaxation and well-being, peacefulness and harmony, and new behaviors

  1. Acupoints in NADA protocol are located at (sympathetic: in the deltoid fossa at the junction of the infra-antihelix crus and the medial order of the helix, lung: in the center of the cavum concha, liver: located in the posterior to upper portion of the helix crus, kidney: in the cleft between the upper plateau, and the helix)