Acupuncture for Crack-cocaine Detoxification:
Experimental Evaluation of Efficacy

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:    Frankp@chiro.org

Lipton et al (1994) [1] investigated ear acupuncture in treatment of cocaine dependency over a one–month period. 150 patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a placebo–control group (patients received ear acupuncture at points not commonly used for addiction treatment).

After two weeks of treatment, the experimental group showed significantly lower cocaine metabolite levels in urine specimens than the placebo group. Konefal, Duncan and Clemence (1994) [2] randomized substance abuse patients at a treatment clinic into three groups: 1) usual care, 2) usual care plus frequent urine testing, 3) usual care, frequent urine testing, and acupuncture. Patients in the acupuncture group became clean (negative urine test) in 57% of the time required for the frequent urine testing group.

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References:

¹    Lipton, D.S., Brewington, V., Smith, M.
Acupuncture for Crack–cocaine Detoxification: Experimental Evaluation of Efficacy
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 1994 (May);   11 (3):   205–215

²    Konefal, J., Duncan, R., Clemence, C.
The Impact of the Addition of an Acupuncture Treatment Program to an Existing Metro–Dade County Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Facility
Journal of Addictive Diseases 1994;   13 (3):   71–99

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