Is acupuncture compatible with 12-Step or abstinence-based treatment approaches?

Resources for Acupuncture in Chemical Dependency Treatment and Recovery

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

What kinds of agencies or services should think about adding an acupuncture component?

Does acupuncture really work?

Are there any drugs that it doesn't work for?

Does it help with other addictions?

How much does it cost?

How do programs pay for it?

Is acupuncture safe? What are the liability issues? Is there increased risk of spreading infectious disease?

Does the treatment hurt?

How much time does the treatment take?

Do clients need to make an appointment for acupuncture?

What do clients do while they're getting needled?

Is acupuncture compatible with 12-Step or abstinence-based treatment approaches?

Acupuncture benefits clients in any treatment or recovery setting by reducing stress and other symptoms of acute and post-acute withdrawal.

It is interesting to note that 12-Step programs - while ultimately subscribing to life-long abstinence as the solution to chronic alcoholism or other drug addiction - are remarkably tolerant of relapse. People may "chip" 12-Step programs - experiencing multiple relapses over extended periods of time - before finally "getting it." And they are always welcomed back regardless of how recently they used. In fact, most 12-Step groups ask people to leave the meeting based only on behavior rather than on the person's state of sobriety.

Acupuncture allows the outpatient treatment program to adopt this same flexibility. When provided daily in a barrier-free, outpatient setting, acupuncture allows the program to adapt a philosophy of "first things first." For example, it is the policy of many clinics to encourage clients to "come as clean as they can." Multiple drug users may be encouraged to take things "one step at a time" (i.e. a "heavy drinker" concerned about their excessive use of marijuana might be encouraged to just work first on the latter).

Those who subscribe to abstinence-based approaches for chronic alcoholics and drug addicts have significantly increased their ability to attract and engage clients in this manner in good conscience, because chronic drug use and daily acupuncture are ultimately and intrinsically incompatible. That is to say, a chronic drug user who receives acupuncture every day will eventually either stop their drug use or stop coming for acupuncture. If the latter occurs, the outcome will have been that - like the 12-Step program - the person has been exposed to something to which they know they can return the next time they feel in need of help.

Many abstinence-based programs who have incorporated acupuncture also find that they can add harm-reduction components. For example, one abstinence-based program provides on-site AIDS testing, and another provides free consultations for homeless persons with a public health nurse at the same time that acupuncture is being provided, thus providing an accessible entrée to recovery support services that would not otherwise be available to these individuals. Other programs have added HIV prevention street outreach and participated in needle exchange programs, inviting people to visit their acupuncture clinic to help reduce stress and to get condoms, bleach, and public health information (see also compatibility with harm reduction).

Click Here for more about how acupuncture interfaces with 12-Step recovery!

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