What Won't adding acupuncture make our program seem experimental?

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?

Won't adding "alternative medicine" such as acupuncture make our program seem experimental or "fringe" with our referral sources, funders, or potential clients?

The view that Oriental Medicine and acupuncture are "alternative" is a largely North American phenomenon. In most European countries - and certainly in China (which has fully integrated Western medicine) these "Eastern" therapies are viewed as complementary; they are not an "alternative" to anything.

And this is the view that appropriately governs the use of acupuncture in the alcohol and other drug treatment setting. Acupuncture should be viewed as an added tool to assist and support clients in their recovery, and should never be viewed as an alternative to conventional treatment modalities. This is the stance that the program should take in its outreach, grantwriting, and public relations policies. The fact that CSAT has undertaken to publish a TIP on acupuncture lends mainstream legitimacy to this view.

The greatest support for acupuncture in addiction treatment has come from the criminal justice community, particularly with the establishment of acupuncture as an integral part of the original drug court program in Miami in 1989 (see article), and in subsequent successful drug court venues throughout the country. This is largely because criminal justice practitioners are witness to the high rates of relapse among chronic addicts and alcoholics, and are very practical about any strategies that might help.

In North America, resistance to Chinese medicine in general comes mostly from the Western medical community. But resistance to acupuncture in the treatment of addiction treatment can be easily answered by the extensive Western research on acupuncture's efficacy in treating pain. Much of this "beta endorfin" research has been conducted with animals, dispelling the theory that acupuncture is a "panacea." The resistance of many physicians - particularly those who are familiar with addiction - is further softened by their knowledge about the great challenges in treating the chronic relapsing disease of addiction. The most cynical reaction is often the ironic one, "Well, it probably won't hurt."

One surprising (though increasingly small) pocket of resistance to this work comes from the Chinese medical community itself. Click here for a perspective on these concerns and issues.

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