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.
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