Development of Acudetox

The use of acupuncture for the treatment of drug and alcohol dependency (Acudetox) is a recent development in the history of this ancient art. For centuries, Asian cultures have placed needles in precise locations on the body to relieve pain and treat disease. Only since 1972, when a Hong Kong neurosurgeon, H.L Wen M.D., discovered that acupuncture could alleviate the symptoms of drug withdrawal, has this method been used for detoxification and relapse prevention.

The Lincoln Memorial Hospital

In the USA Acudetox was first introduced on an outpatient basis in 1974 at the Lincoln Memorial Hospital, a city facility in the South Bronx area of New York City.  By the mid 1980’s the success of this unique procedure had become so evident that treatment facilities across the USA began incorporating acupuncture into their treatment programmes.

NADA: The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association, USA

In 1985, the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) was established to promote education and training of clinicians in the use of Acudetox through the NADA five-point ear acupuncture protocol.

In 1987, Bullock, Culliton and Olander published research on its effectiveness in treating people with chronic drug dependency problems. Acupuncture detoxification evolved rapidly and is now used effectively for acute and prolonged withdrawal as well as relapse prevention.  Yale University, school of internal medicine, published a research report in the August 2000 (Archives of Internal Medicine) that showed the effectiveness of the NADA protocol in the treatment of cocaine, heroin and methadone addiction.

Currently, over one thousand treatment programmes in the USA now use acupuncture and NADA US has trained over 5000 clinicians in the USA and worldwide.

NADA UK

NADA-UK was established in 1991 as a non-profit making, membership organisation. NADA-UK supports education and training related to the use of the specific auricular (ear) acupuncture procedure for the treatment of drug and alcohol problems (Acudetox) that helps to relieve symptoms during detoxification, prevent relapses and support long term recovery.

Upon successful completion of a NADA-UK training course provided by a registered NADA-UK trainer, practitioners are awarded an annual certificate to practice acudetox. 

Currently, we have approximately 1500 NADA-UK practitioners. These practitioners are employed in the provision of services for substance misusers and provide acudetox treatments for this client group. Currently, over 500 agencies, both voluntary and statutory including HM Prisons, NHS Trusts and street agencies, etc. utilise acudetox provided by NADA-UK practitioners.

NADA-UK strives to make Acudetox accessible in all communities and to ensure its integration with other treatment modalities.  NADA-UK is committed to ensure that the training and certification of Acudetox practitioners meets the highest clinical and ethical standards.

In order to ensure the highest standard of practice all NADA-UK practitioners are re-assessed annually.

NADA UK holds a national conference on a yearly basis.

NADA Internationally

NADA-UK is part of a international body. The same protocol is used internationally. NADA US is recognised as the leading international training body in the use of acupuncture detoxification for the treatment of substance misuse problems. Dr Michael Smith, founder of the NADA five-point protocol, from the Lincoln Memorial Hospital, New York, is the director of the substance misuse division known as the Lincoln Recovery Center. He is an advisor for Nada-UK. 

NADA US holds a national conference on a yearly basis. The 2004 Conference was held in Denver. The 2005 Conference will be held in New York March / April (date to be confirmed).

NADA Acudetox in Europe

Many European countries now utilise the NADA protocol and have their own national independent NADA Associations and hold annual national conferences on a yearly basis.

A NADA European National Conference is held
bi-annually.