Methadone Maintenance Treatment Versus Methadone Maintenance Treatment Plus Auricular Acupuncture

Abstract

This study intended to (1) describe the baseline patient satisfaction level and preferred coping strategies and (2) assess patient satisfaction and coping mechanisms pre- and postintervention. Patients on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in Terengganu, Malaysia, were randomized into either MMT or MMT plus auricular acupuncture (MMT + AA) groups. All received the standard MMT, while participants on MMT + AA underwent concurrent AA session thrice weekly for 2 months (each session = 30 minutes). Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 16.0, employing descriptive and nonparametric statistics. Participations were received from 97 eligible male patients (median age = 36.0 years; Malay = 97.9%). After screening for dropouts, only 69 patients were considered for subsequent analysis (MMT = 40; MMT + AA = 29). At preintervention, both groups did not differ significantly in the parameters investigated. During postintervention, no significant difference was detected for satisfaction level but coping-wise, substance use was significantly and frequently adopted by MMT + AA patients compared to MMT respondents (P < .05). On separate analysis, those who received MMT alone adopted active coping, venting, and self-blame significantly more frequently postintervention (P < .05). Nevertheless, no significant difference for coping styles of MMT + AA patients was exhibited over time (P >.05). The addition of AA therapy into the standard MMT treatment did not seem to influence patient satisfaction and their coping ways.

Efficacy of Electroacupuncture Combined with Auricular Point Pressing in Improving Mental Well‐Being among Individuals with Heroin Use Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial and Pilot Study

“…A partially single adjunct therapeutic method to treat withdrawal symptoms during opiate detoxification has been beneficial in MMT in managing related disorders [ 23 – 26 ]. A daily practice of appropriate auricular point pressing may also strengthen efficacy for improving RP (single therapy, baseline: 7.27 ± 1.40 vs. posttreatment: 7.70 ± 0.93, p = 0.021), GH (single therapy, baseline: 15.37 ± 1.08 vs. posttreatment: 15.91 ± 1.11, p = 0.044), and VT (single therapy, baseline: 11.78 ± 2.29 vs. posttreatment: 12.54 ± 2.04, p = 0.011; Table 3 ) subscales.…”

“…Electroacupuncture was dispersed at automatic 2-second intervals for 20 minutes to lead to “DeQi” (revealed as numbness, soreness, and heaviness), with increasing 1 mA increments of intensity to the maximum tolerable intensity as reported by the participant. In addition, bilateral Shenmen auricular acupoints were fixed with cowherb seed by a breathable tape and stimulated by manual pressing every five minutes for a total of 20 minutes, in accordance with relevant research [ 24 – 26 ]. All TCM interventions and care were provided in quiet, private clinics of the Linsen Chinese Medicine and Kunming branches of Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, by the same attending clinician with 10 years of acupuncture experience, and all interventions were performed in the evening (between 5:00 and 8:00 pm).…”

Acupuncture therapy for drug addiction

“…In 2009, Bearn demonstrated a lack of effect for adjunctive methadone maintenance treatment with AA upon withdrawal severity or craving [ 11 ]. In 2013, Pei Lin showed a lack of AA effectiveness on the number of daily consumed cigarettes, relapse rate, and withdrawal symptoms, and examined patients’ satisfaction and coping with AA as an adjunct treatment to methadone maintenance treatment among Malaysian subjects [ 57 , 58 ]. However, Chan et al [ 22 ] claimed that 2 weeks of acupuncture therapy reduced the daily dose of methadone and was also associated with greater improvement in sleep latency.…”

“…The P200 amplitude components on (Fz, Cz, and Pz) Electroacupuncture effectively inhibited the attention bias to heroin 2012 Cai [ 17 ] To understand the influence of heroin cue exposure on brain activation 12 Heroin addicts and 12 healthy subjects non-twirled acupuncture and twirled acupuncture at bilateral Zusanli (ST36) for 1 min fMRI during heroin cue exposure Acupuncture can rapidly suppress the activation of specific brain regions related to craving as an intervention for drug craving 2012 Liu [ 56 ] To investigate the beneficial effects of EA on heroin-seeking behavior 40 Male Sprague–Dawley rats, n = 10 EA 2 Hz EA at Zusanli (ST36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6), once a day for 14 days during heroin abstinence Contextual and discrete cue-induced reinstatement of active responses. Fos-positive nuclei detection in the nucleus accumbens (NACc) core and shell acupuncture was effective in preventing relapse to drug addiction 2013 Hu [ 33 ] To investigate the effects of EA on the extinction of heroin-seeking behavior 18 Male Sprague–Dawley rats, n = 6 EA 2 Hz EA at Zusanli (ST36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6), once a day for 7 days The extinction response of heroin associated cues and applied immunohistochemistry to detect FosB-positive nuclei in the nucleus accumbens core Acupuncture enhanced extinction learning when combined with extinction therapy for the treatment of heroin addiction 2013 Lua, Pei Lin [ 57 ] To find the effects of AA in number of consumed daily cigarettes, relapse rate, and withdrawal symptoms 40 MMT, 29 MMT + AA human subjects Auricular acupuncture at 5 points NADA points, 3 times a week Malay HOQOLBREF, withdrawal symptoms Acupuncture adjunct to MMT was beneficial in managing addiction behaviors 2013 Lua, Pei Lin [ 58 ] To examine the patients’ satisfaction and coping with AA as an adjunct treatment to MMT …”

Acupuncture Treatment of Substance Use Disorders

“…Recently, more studies have produced negative results, suggesting that auricular acupuncture might have no effect on withdrawal severity, craving and attendance when provided as an adjunct to methadone treatment services [25][26][27]. Overall, the use of the NADA protocol as a treatment for addiction does not seem to support clinical trials with large sample sizes.…”