DRUG COURT AND ACUPUNTURE
RESEARCH SUPPORT FOR ACUPUNCTURE & AURICULOTHERAPY
Since the late 1970's and the 1980's numerous studies have been performed in order to evaluate acupuncture and recently auriculotherapy in the treatment of addictive behaviors. A recent MEDLINE search found over 9,780 studies dealing with the use of acupuncture (in all forms) for SUD including alcoholism, heroin addiction, stimulant abuse, binge eating and smoking behavior. The majority of data come from the most obvious application of acupuncture: the attempt to decrease the pain and other discomforts associated with opiate addiction. A number of positive studies by Wen in 1977 showed intense relief of withdrawal symptoms within 15 minutes of the beginning of the procedures. A subsequent one year follow up of the sample by Schuckit and associates revealed that 51 had been free of drugs during the interval. In 1985, Kroening and Oieson found that the combination of precipitous opiate withdrawal along with auriculotherapy was successful, with 86% of the patients withdrawing within five to seven days with a minimum of side effects. Currently the literature reveals a number of positive studies using acupuncture, ear acupuncture, or auriculotherapy including: smoking (He et al. 1997), alcoholism (Brewer 1995); cocaine addiction a five point approved and established protocol as defined by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA).
5. Patient Comments include a number of very positive responses. In this regard here are a few to consider: "A change in attitude." "Moods are less erratic." "Feeling good from within." "Full of energy." "Headache is gone." "Now actually sleeping." "This was the quickest I kicked heroin." "It reduces my craving for booze, and it brought back my natural energy." "I feel less stress." "I'm calmer." "Before acupuncture, even though I was clean I never once stopped craving drugs. Since acupuncture, I've stopped the craving."
6. Counselors of drug court had this to say: "Patients are coming in more balanced emotionally, mentally and physically." "I have seen tremendous results with acupuncture for my patients."
DRUG COURT AND ACUPUNCTURE
The Drug Court is one of the most famous programs to incorporate the use of acupuncture detox treatment. Janet Reno, the former Attorney General, was one of the founders of the original Drug Court in Dade County, Florida in 1989. Over the past decade, Drug Court programs have switched the criminal justice approach to drug abuse from one based in punishment to one rooted in rehabilitation.
In general, if drug offenders, including DUI offenders, decide to participate in a typical one year Drug Court program, their arrest will be erased from their record and they will be released from probation. One of us (CR) is the licensed acupuncturist for the Sacramento based Drug Court. In this program, along with drug testing and counseling, clients receive auricular acupuncture five days a week.
Some programs encourage other important modalities. The Canadian scientist, Bruce Pomeranz, found that the amino acid Dphenylalanine has been shown to potentiate the analgesic effects of acupuncture in rodents. With this in mind, two of us (KB & CR) are engaged in a scientific study to assess the result of combining amino acid therapy (using the REWARD"" System developed by KB) and acupuncture to treat clients in a Drug Court setting. It is noteworthy that since the nutritional supplement component of Sacramento's Drug court began in July 1998, the percentage of program graduates has risen by 39 percent. Moreover, work by TRS, KB & DKM is proceeding with DUI offenders at the Excel Treatment Program in Denver Colorado in conjunction with the Denver Drug Court System. In this program, the combination of counseling, acupuncture, and amino acid therapy (both oral & intravenous) has produced significant positive results in preventing relapse.
