Advocacy Resources
New Registered Trainers for Arizona
I believe there should be no obstruction of law in learning the protocol, given the roots of this specific application. The NADA protocol belongs to the people. – Rhonda Coleman, a new Registered Trainer in Arizona
What if EVERYONE was an acupuncturist?
by Nora Madden This article was originally published as a blog on the Community Acupuncture Network’s (CAN) forum on June 8, 2009. Reprinted with permission by the author in the  Summer 2021 Guidepoints Issue. Sign-up to...
NADA’s First Virtual Conference, Southwest Style
On October 15, 2020, NADA held its first virtual conference titled Innovations in Healing with the NADA Protocol. The presentations featured the Southwest region of the United States, and included speakers from Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. One of the organizers appreciated the online space, because “it allowed people to attend since travel was not an issue.” Even when we come to a time when travel and gathering may become easier, we have learned that the space for meeting online is not going away – it is a strategy that builds access, one of NADA’s principal values.
Opening access to the NADA protocol is becoming a legislative trend
with Vermont and Colorado paving the new path. Twenty-four states have statutes on the practice of the NADA protocol by a diversity of workers. On July 1, 2019, Vermont became the first to deregulate the practice of the protocol entirely. One year later, the state of Colorado followed suit, as part of changes made during the sunset review of the Mental Health Practice Act. These changes point to a growing trend of the NADA protocol becoming more available and accessible in clinical and community spaces, and to state governments having a less fearful approach to NADA providers serving their communities.
Membership Spotlight: Hajera Ahmed
Hajera Ahmed is working to expand access to the NADA protocol in Washington state. “The thing that stuck out most about Acudetox to me is that there isn’t a hierarchy around who ‘deserves’ healing. EVERYONE deserves love and care, EVERYONE deserves access to a warm space to rest and EVERYONE deserves healing. It doesn’t matter how much money you have or what you do for work or what you believe or what language you speak. Everyone can be their own healer, and hold space for others if they are willing.”
NADA Changes the Dominant Paradigm (Visual Adaptation)
View this adaptation of Michael Smith’s classic essay as a short video or on NADA’s Instagram (@spiritofnada).
NADA Changes the Dominant Paradigm (PDF Handout)
PDF handout of Michael Smith’s essay ‘NADA Changes the Dominant Paradigm’
Harvard video series on ear acupuncture research starts in New Hampshire
Harvard University’s Asia Center just published a two part video series by scholar, Eana Meng, chronicling her global journey to uncover the roots and branches of ear acupuncture, including the NADA Protocol. “Origin stories are hard to pinpoint. Instead of trying to figure out the start and end points, I want to look at the connection in transmission of the practice and knowledge. Just like acupuncture, the way to understand the following stories is to look at the unexpected connections. Connections between seventies revolutionaries in New York to present day prisons in England. From those in recovery clinics in Hungary to police officers in India and even First responders on Ground Zero post 9–11.”
Registration Opens for First NADA Virtual Regional Meeting
Join the North American NADA community as we come together to learn and be inspired by the creative ways in which NADA providers in the Southwest region have been using the NADA protocol. Come to rejuvenate your NADA spirit, connect with the NADA community, and learn about innovative & grassroots programming. Register today!
Back to the Future: The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) Protocol Persists as an Agent of Social Justice and Community Healing by the People and for the People
An analysis of the Lincoln experience can inform how best to respond to the social unrest that is now manifesting across the country and across color and socio-economic lines in support of Black and Brown lives. Coming full circle, explosive social unrest has returned to challenge us here in the US.
Liberation Acupuncture and the Road of Recovery Ahead of Us
by Ryan Bemis This article first was published in Medicinal Roots Magazine Summer 2020 Issue and has been republished here with permission from the author and publisher. In February 2020, on the eve of the Coronavirus outbreak in the Americas, I’m...
Decarcerate Our Prisons With Support From the Spirit of NADA
By Chuck Pyle These are troubling and scary times as we face an international pandemic and persistent national protests against the fatal consequences of the racial injustice of law enforcement in the United States. It is an even scarier time if you are incarcerated...
NADA Community Comes Together for ‘Beads, Pass It On!’ Video Challenge
NADA Members work together to create short videos to inspire their communities to try out ear acupressure for stress relief. Learn more about the 'Beads, Pass It On' Community Challenge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOTFMgQJtc8...
Membership Café with Ken Carter, NADA President
"The NADA Spirit is a spirit of service." - Ken Carter, NADA President In June 2020 the NADA community gathered virtually for a special NADA Membership Café with recently elected NADA President, Ken Carter. Ken shared his reflections on ancestral healing,...
Membership Café with Ralph & Nancy
In May 2020 the global NADA community gathered virtually for a special open NADA Membership Café with Ralph Raben (Director, NADA Germany) & Nancy Smalls (Founder, Maternal Substance Abuse Services, Lincoln Recovery Center). VIEW THE...
May Membership Café with Ralph Raben & Nancy Smalls
Come reflect and connect with the global NADA community for a special open NADA Membership Café with Ralph Raben (Director, NADA Germany) & Nancy Smalls (Founder, Maternal Substance Abuse Services, Lincoln Recovery Center). Join us May 20th at 11am...
Community Care in the time of COVID-19: Resources & Invitations to Connect
For more recent guidelines see: NADA Protocol for the Pandemic - Returning to In-Person Treatment In these times of expressing social solidarity through physical distancing, we encourage NADA members to be in virtual community with one another while adapting to safe...
Featured Resource: Beads and Seeds Outreach Tools
Beads and seeds are a simple technique to offer support for hard times. In our ‘Beads and Seeds’ Resources section, we have a compilation of articles and research on beads and seeds.
A Criminal Justice Problem and a Public Health Crisis
Article from the Spring 2018 Guidepoints Newsletter. Complete newsletter available to NADA members.A Criminal Justice Problem and a Public Health Crisis by Chuck Pyle Editorial note: This report has been condensed due to space constraints. The full report is available...
Compilation of Articles on the use of Magnetic Acupressure Beads
This collection of articles was published in Guidepoints and includes writing from Michael Smith. This short compilation can be used as an outreach and education tool when introducing people to the use of the acupressure beads and seeds as a simpler and more...
NADA Policy Making and Legislative Advocacy
by Ryan Bemis, NADA Policy Consultant “Things will change. They have to. A provider can’t challenge a patient who says: 'This is going to help me.' " -- Philip James Oliver, Sr. Sickle Cell Support Group...
The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol, auricular acupuncture to support patients with substance abuse and behavioral health disorders: Current Perspectives
Stuyt, Voyles NADA 2016 Abstract: The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA)-standardized 3- to 5-point ear acupuncture protocol, born of a community-minded response to turbulent times notunlike today, has evolved into the most widely implemented...
Sample Advocacy Letters
to Health and Human Resources Committee in support for HB4465 to House 3M Committee in support for H4590 to House and Senate Health Committees in support for HB684 to Senate in support for HB575 to Senator Rader in support for Req Bill 1940
NADA Protocol for Behavioral Health. Putting Tools in the Hands of Behavioral Health Providers: The Case for Auricular Detoxification Specialists
The NADA protocol has the potential to provide vast public health relief on issues currently challenging our world. This includes but is not limited to addiction, but also encompasses mental health, trauma, PTSD, chronic stress, and the symptoms associated with these conditions. Research Paper by Stuyt, Voyles and Bursac
Letter stating No Insurance Claims from AAC
“AAC has no record of a claim ever filed against one of our insured auricular acupuncturists”
NADA Acupuncture for Mental Health, Trauma and Addiction
This one page document includes a brief description of NADA and the NADA protocol, as well as a list of benefits and testimonials from officials.
NADA Protocol – Integrative Acupuncture in Addictions
Written by Kenneth Carter, MD, MPH and Michelle Olshan-Perlmutter, PMHCNS-BC, FNP-BC for the Journal of Addictions Nursing. It recognizes NADA as a best practice in the treatment of substance use disorders.
Reduce Recidivism, Prison Violence & Related Costs in California: Train Social Service Providers in Safe & Cost – Effective Ear Acupuncture
Inadequate addictions services in the community often contributes to the prison “revolving doorâ€1, increasing taxpayer burden and leaving related mental health problems unresolved. Read Full Article