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Acupuncture is increasingly being utilized as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD), according to a study published in Medical Acupuncture in June 2023. The research, conducted by physicians at Emory University School of Medicine, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Boston Children’s Hospital, examines the history, evidence base, and potential of acupuncture in addiction medicine.

The study, authored by Jamie M. Kitzman, Laura C. Bowman, and Yuan-Chi Lin, details the origins of acupuncture in ancient China, noting its foundation on the concept of energy pathways, or meridians, within the human body. Disruptions to this energy flow are believed to cause illness, and acupuncture aims to restore balance. While practiced for centuries in China, the FDA recognized acupuncture as a medical treatment in 1994.

Researchers found that acupuncture is often integrated with traditional addiction treatments like psychotherapy and behavioral therapies, offering a holistic approach to recovery. Multiple studies have demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture in treating both drug and alcohol addiction, according to a report from addictions.com.

The Medical Acupuncture study highlights the role of acupuncture in addressing the complex needs of patients struggling with addiction. Alternative to Meds Center incorporates acupuncture into its holistic SUD treatment program, recognizing it as an approved adjunctive therapy. The practice involves inserting thin needles at specific points on the skin, sometimes with mild electrical stimulation, to activate the body’s natural healing processes.

Jamie M. Kitzman, MD, DABMA, FASA, of Emory University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, led the research. Co-authors include Laura C. Bowman, MD, of Metro Acupuncture and CHRIS180 in Atlanta, and Yuan-Chi Lin, MD, MPH, of Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.