NADA Acupuncture Prospective Trial in Patients with Substance Use Disorders and Seven Common Health Symptoms

Background: National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) acupuncture is a simple standardized Five-Point auricular needling protocol that originated as a grassroots response to opiate addiction in the 1970s. It is increasingly recognized as a nonspecific behavioral health intervention of notable utility in a wide variety of other psychiatric settings and conditions. Objective: The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of NADA acupuncture in reducing the severity of seven common behavioral health symptoms associated with addictive substance use. Design: This was a prospective trial in a self-selected population of nonrandomized patients. Setting: The trial was conducted at the Mecklenburg County Substance Abuse Services Center (SASC) in Charlotte, NC. Patients: All 167 patients participating in the study met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders—IV Edition, American Psychiatric Association criteria for a current diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder. Intervention: The interventions examined were NADA-acupuncture-plus-conventional treatment versus conventional-treatment-only within a highly structured 28-day residential treatment program. Main Outcome Measure: The outcome sought was a change in symptom severity from baseline as shown on a 10-point Likert scale. Results: NADA acupuncture plus conventional treatment was associated with statistically significant improvement (p=0.0001) across all symptom measures. p-Values were obtained from a t-test analysis using SAS statistical software, version 9.1. Conclusions: NADA acupuncture may help facilitate significant reduction in cravings, depression, anxiety, anger, body aches/headaches, concentration, and decreased energy.