Ear Acupuncture for Cocaine Addiction Study

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/1/2002 10:17:54 PM US Eastern Standard Time, fbernall writes:

 

 

If one has any doubt about this, just ask the hundreds of drug-free clients that have gone through Lincoln Detox. There's a unique energy in that place.

 

Fernando

 

 

Fernando I agree with this statement..... I completed both my inital training and cert trainer training at Lincoln and developed a program at the hosp where I worked. It is only an adjunct and not to used as a stand alone. But addicts do benefit from the NADA treatments.

 

Shane

[Guest guest]

Tuesday January 1 5:35 PM ET

Ear Acupuncture No Cure for Cocaine Addict-Study

 

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Treating cocaine abusers with acupuncture needles

inserted in their ears, a technique growing in popularity, was no

more effective in conquering addiction than relaxation therapy, a

study said on Tuesday.

 

Some of the 620 cocaine-dependent adults divided into three groups in

the study did cut their usage, but the reduction was the same whether

they underwent five-times-weekly auricular (ear) acupuncture

treatments, relaxation therapy or acupuncture needle insertions not

designed to have any therapeutic effect.

 

``We did not find acupuncture more effective than a needle insertion

or relaxation control in reducing cocaine use,'' said Dr. Arthur

Margolin of the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven,

Connecticut.

 

Writing in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association

(news - web sites), Margolin said auricular acupuncture is widely

used -- more than 400 abuse clinics in the United States and Europe

offer it -- but the mechanism by which it is supposed to work is a

mystery.

 

In the study, the subjects underwent eight weeks of treatment and

were offered counseling as well. Only 279 completed the program, and

fewer than one out of five reported having interaction with a

counselor each week.

 

``Our study ... does not support the use of acupuncture as a stand-

alone treatment for cocaine addiction or when patients receive only

minimal concurrent psychosocial treatments,'' Margolin wrote.

``Research will be needed to examine the contribution of acupuncture

when provided in an ancillary role.''

[Guest guest]

Interesting. They start with 620 and in two months loose 341 clients.

Fewer than one out five had any interaction with counselors.

Is this a study that deserves any attention?

 

I think that Michael Smith of Lincoln Detox in the South Bronx would

be the first one to state that auricular acupuncture is not enough to

free anyone from coke or any other drug habit.

 

It should be understood that auricular acupuncture is only one

component of substance abuse treatment. It should be used primarily

as an adjunct to the conventional methods of psychosocial

rehabilitation including twelve-step programs, qi gong, meditation,

herbal medicine, counseling, peer support and, when needed,

appropriate medical stabilization through psycho-pharmaceuticals.

 

When used within this context, auricular acupuncture (even if one only

uses the five needle protocol from NADA)is a very helpful modality.

In my experience, frequent acupuncture tx helps the patient open up

during counseling sessions. It helps patients relax, and when used in

a in-patient facility, helps in the withdrawal crisis.

 

If one has any doubt about this, just ask the hundreds of drug-free

clients that have gone through Lincoln Detox. There's a unique energy

in that place.

 

Fernando

 

 

 

, " jramholz " <jramholz> wrote:

> Tuesday January 1 5:35 PM ET

> Ear Acupuncture No Cure for Cocaine Addict-Study

>

> CHICAGO (Reuters) - Treating cocaine abusers with acupuncture

needles

> inserted in their ears, a technique growing in popularity, was no

> more effective in conquering addiction than relaxation therapy, a

> study said on Tuesday.

 

> Some of the 620 cocaine-dependent adults divided into three groups

in

> the study did cut their usage, but the reduction was the same

whether

> they underwent five-times-weekly auricular (ear) acupuncture

> treatments, relaxation therapy or acupuncture needle insertions not

> designed to have any therapeutic effect.

>

> ``We did not find acupuncture more effective than a needle insertion

> or relaxation control in reducing cocaine use,'' said Dr. Arthur

> Margolin of the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven,

> Connecticut.

>

> Writing in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association

> (news - web sites), Margolin said auricular acupuncture is widely

> used -- more than 400 abuse clinics in the United States and Europe

> offer it -- but the mechanism by which it is supposed to work is a

> mystery.

>

> In the study, the subjects underwent eight weeks of treatment and

> were offered counseling as well. Only 279 completed the program, and

> fewer than one out of five reported having interaction with a

> counselor each week.

>

> ``Our study ... does not support the use of acupuncture as a stand-

> alone treatment for cocaine addiction or when patients receive only

> minimal concurrent psychosocial treatments,'' Margolin wrote.

> ``Research will be needed to examine the contribution of acupuncture

> when provided in an ancillary role.''