| The points for treating drug addiction | | | | insufficient, and it probably doesn't |
| are found on the ear, and they can be | | | | help prevent relapses at all. But given |
| taught relatively easily to laypeople, | | | | the dearth of successful medical |
| which then only use acupuncture for this | | | | treatments for addiction, there clearly |
| specific purpose. Detoxification from | | | | needs to be more research into the role |
| chronic use of prescribed opiates | | | | of acupuncture detoxification as part of |
| usually takes 3-6 months; even "brief" | | | | a comprehensive treatment program. |
| detoxification programs may take more | | | | An excellent review of studies of |
| than a month. In an uncontrolled trial | | | | acupuncture and substance abuse was |
| of electrical stimulation at ear | | | | written by Brewington, Smith and Lipton, |
| acupuncture points, twelve out of | | | | the first two of whom work at Lincoln |
| fourteen chronic pain patients were able | | | | Hospital in the Bronx, where the use of |
| to completely withdraw from narcotics | | | | acupuncture in treating withdrawal |
| within 2-7 days, and they experienced | | | | symptoms of drug addiction was |
| few or no side effects. | | | | pioneered. If you're interested in a |
| The evidence that acupuncture helps with | | | | comprehensive analysis of both published |
| withdrawal symptoms is tantalizing but | | | | and unpublished trials, see this review. |