Research Summary by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)

Frequently Asked Questions Series:

Effectiveness of Acupuncture as an Adjunct to Substance Abuse Treatment: Summary of Recent Research Findings

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Date: May 24, 2011

QUESTION
A number of the early drug courts used acupuncture as an adjunct to the substance abuse treatment provide to drug court participants. However, over the years, the frequency with which drug court programs have incorporated acupuncture as an adjunct to the treatment services provided appears to be declining for reasons which appear unrelated to the merits of its use. In response to the periodic inquires the BJA Drug Court Technical Assistance Project receives from the field regarding the effectiveness of
acupuncture as an adjunct to drug tr eatment, we have prepared the following summary of recent research findings for use by programs considering including acupuncture as an available adjunct to the treatment servicesavailable to drug court participants.

The research findings reported include citations to the study reports from which they are excerpted as well as any limitations regarding the study methodology that are noted.

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The document explores the following:

• WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?
• WHAT HAS BEEN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ACUPUNCTURE SERVICES AS AN ADJUNCT TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE
• STUDIES DEMONSTRATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ACUPUNCTURE
• STUDIES QUESTIONING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ACUPUNCTURE
• ISSUES STILL TO BE ADDRESSED

Click here to view the PDF of this document.
Bureau of Justice Assistance Summary of Research Findings