Acupuncture used as addiction treatment

Sarah Moses
Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — Now in operation for about three months, the Garrett County Health Department’s acupuncture detox therapy continues to gain new interest.

“We’ve had a very positive response,” Bob Stephens, director of behavioral and family health, said. “We have clients who are coming back every week. … It needs to be offered in conjunction with therapy. What we have found is that it provides some stress reduction to folks who are addicted.”

The acudetox, Stephens said, was something that he and staff heard about at a state-sponsored training session. Kathy Beals, an addictions therapist, and Stephens were present for a demonstration. He said they decided to pursue the program as a way to “enhance services we have in the community.”

In mid-January, the county became certified to offer acudetox, but Stephens said it has been practiced in other parts of the state for years.

The program accompanies other addictions treatment options for smoking, alcohol and drug abuse. The acupuncture therapy is believed to reduce or eliminate cravings while revitalizing the body’s major organs. The use of acupuncture in detox was developed in 1974 at New York City’s Lincoln Hospital and is now used in 1,200 addiction treatment programs across North America.

Beals provides the five-needle acudetox treatment under the supervision of a licensed acupuncturist in a small group setting.

The single-use sterile needles are all placed in the ear, and according to reports have shown to reduce symptoms of addiction, reducing cravings and withdrawals such as headaches, body aches, sweats and anxiety.

Stephens said they are hearing from clients that the program is helping them through their addiction.

The belief is that the system turns on the production of the body’s “feel- good” chemicals like dopamine and endorphins that can be depleted by regular use of drugs and alcohol.

“In the health department’s clinic,” Beals said, “acudetox is never used as an isolated treatment, but rather is integrated into a more comprehensive addiction wellness program.”

Stephens said the program isn’t offered as part of the county’s mental health program. The department only has the ability to provide it to those coping with addiction.