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, 45Â min for 9Â 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 30Â 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, 40Â min for 4Â 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 40Â 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 45Â 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 | 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, 45Â 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 45Â 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 100Â Hz at Neiguan (PC6)/Waiguan (TH5) and Hegu (LI4)/Laogong (PC8) stimulation, Twice-daily 30-minute sessions of for 3.5Â 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 |