Physiologo-biochemical bases of drug dependence treatment by electro-acupuncture

Smoking cessation after acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture is applied, especially in treatment of pain, hemiplegia, obesity, and psychological illnesses including addiction. Recently, ear and body acupuncture have been frequently used in the treatment of smoking. An increase in levels of endorphin, enkephalin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine in the central nervous system and plasma has been reported as the most important mechanism of acupuncture. That is, acupuncture application may increase the levels of endorphin, enkephalin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine in the central nervous system and plasma. The authors think that acupuncture application provides the patients with deterioration in the taste of smoking, decrease in desire of smoking, and the obstruction of psychological symptoms that appear as a result of smoking cessation. Because of these effects it is presumed that acupuncture application may be used as an important method for smoking cessation treatment.

Rationale and design of the Cocaine Alternative Treatments Study (CATS): a randomized, controlled trial of acupuncture

Acupuncture has been incorporated as a treatment component in numerous addiction treatment programs in the United States; however, its efficacy has not been demonstrated in large-scale, controlled clinical trials. In this article we discuss the background and design of the Cocaine Alternative Treatments Study (CATS), a randomized, controlled, multisite study of acupuncture that will enroll 500 cocaine-dependent individuals at 6 sites across the country, and that constitutes the largest controlled trial for the treatment of cocaine addiction undertaken to date. After presenting the background of the study, we discuss the approach taken to address several critical issues, including the choice of appropriate control conditions, point location for needle insertion, degree of blinding, and bias checks. Complementary therapies are used by a significant number of individuals, and the need to evaluate them in controlled clinical trials is an ongoing and urgent issue.

Overview of substance abuse acupuncture treatment research

The research on the efficacy of acupuncture substance abuse treatment is generally still in an early stage. The methodological weaknesses found in the acupuncture research can be found in most substance abuse research. Sufficient early trial, empirical findings suggest that there are positive treatment effects. Certainly, use of the treatment is popular and widespread. Overall, the research has progressed beyond early clinical trials, and the method has been documented to be safe and potentially useful.

Acupuncture as a detoxification treatment: an analysis of controlled research

The research literature on the use of acupuncture as a substance abuse treatment is reviewed. In recent years numerous descriptive reports have been published concerning the efficacy of acupuncture in alleviating withdrawal symptoms with substance abusers attempting abstinence. While a limited number of experimental design studies have been conducted in this area, results from controlled studies generally support that acupuncture can be effective in assisting active drug and alcohol users become abstinent. Controlled, experimental research on acupuncture and related techniques used as substance abuse treatments are reviewed. An overview regarding acupuncture and related procedures used as substance abuse treatments is first provided. Animal and human studies on acupuncture's usefulness in alleviating opiate withdrawal symptoms are presented, followed by studies concerning other substance abuse problems (i.e., alcohol, tobacco and cocaine). Possible physiological mechanisms related to acupuncture's effects are reviewed.