The protocol for this study has been registered at the clinical research information service (CRIS: KCT0002868).

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Background: Opioids are a class of drugs found in the opium poppy, and used primarily as a pain reliever. About 130 people die every day from opioid abuse in the U.S., and the number of deaths was 6 times higher than it was 20 years ago. Objectives: To derive the implications on Korean Medicine(KM), this study aimed to investigate the current state of opioids abuse in the U.S. and analyze cases to solve opioids abuse using acupuncture. Methods: Literature on opioids abuse in the U.S. were searched through the websites of government, agency, and research institute. Results: There were several cases using acupuncture on opioids abuse. First, the Act on the use of acupuncture was enacted. Second, the clinical practice guidelines by the American College of Physicians recommended using acupuncture. Third, a large clinical study was conducted on whether acupuncture could replace opioids. Fourth, Vermont and Washington State conducted pilot projects on insurance coverage of acupuncture. Conclusions: As opioids issues are also valid in Korea, KM can serve a critical role in pain management to pursue expanded insurance coverage. In order to do so, building the discourses of KM in opioid issues is critical by defining its medical advantage, conducting large-scale clinical researches and implementing pilot projects to tackle social problems.

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Background: Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) is highly integrated with the modern health care system of South Korea and is actively used in the public health field. Since 2014, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea has supported the development of standard models for TKM-based health promotion programs. This study aimed to report and evaluate a standard TKM-based health promotion program for the health of disadvantaged children.Methods: The program was developed based on previous studies, on-site surveys, and expert advice. It was applied to children in the intervention group for 12 weeks, but not to children in the wait-list control group. The program’s effectiveness indicators—the number of outpatient visits, absence, late or early leave, and infectious symptoms—were compared between groups. For statistical analysis, difference-in-differences model with a zero-inflated negative binomial regression model was used.Results: At baseline, there were 156 children in the intervention group and 153 children in the wait-list control group, among which 155 and 147 children, respectively, were included in the analysis. The number of outpatient visits was significantly lower (by 65%) in the intervention group than in the wait-list control group (p = 0.03). The number of absences, lateness/early leaves, and infectious symptoms were 51%, 47%, and 14% lower, respectively, in the intervention group than in the wait-list control group, but the difference was not statistically significant.Conclusions: A standard TKM-based health promotion program has the potential to improve the health of disadvantaged children. In the future, studies with long-term intervention and large-scale subjects are needed to enhance the applicability of these programs in communities.