NCJ Number
194605
Date Published
January 2002
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This study investigated auricular acupuncture's effectiveness as
a treatment for cocaine addiction by using multiple control
conditions.
Abstract
The research design was a randomized, controlled, single-blind
clinical trial; and six community-based clinics were involved,
along with three hospital-affiliated clinics and three methadone programs. There were 620 cocaine-dependent patients (412
"primary" users and 208 methadone-maintained users). Patients
were randomly assigned to auricular acupuncture, a needle
insertion control, or a no-needle relaxation control. Treatments
were provided five times weekly for 8 weeks. Concurrent drug
counseling was also offered to patients in all conditions. The
main outcome measures were cocaine use during treatment and the
3-month and 6-month post-randomization follow-up based on urine toxicology screens, along with retention in treatment. An
analysis of urine samples found a significant overall reduction
in cocaine use, but no differences by treatment condition. There
were also no differences among the conditions in treatment
retention. Patients in all three conditions received equivalent
"doses" of the study treatments (approximately two per week);
however, counseling sessions were poorly attended. Thus, within
the clinical context of this study, acupuncture was not more
effective than a needle insertion or relaxation control in
reducing cocaine use; therefore, the study does not support the
use of acupuncture as a stand-alone treatment for cocaine
addiction or in contexts in which patients receive only minimal
concurrent psychosocial treatments. Future research should
examine the contribution of acupuncture to addiction treatments
when provided in an ancillary role. 4 tables and 34 references
Date Published: January 1, 2002