Auriculotherapy for Smoking Cessation: An Observational Study of Outcomes

Objective: As is well-known among addiction specialists, sustained smoking cessation is difficult to achieve. This article investigates the therapeutic efficacy of ear acupuncture for the smoking cessation in heavy and very heavy smokers. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of the clinical records of a cohort of 185 subjects, treated between 2009 and 2013, at the outpatient clinic for Tobacco Addiction (Ambulatorio Tabagismo, in Cossato, Italy), provided data for an empirical evaluation of integration of auriculotherapy with standard medication treatment for smoking cessation. Results: While reviewing treatment outcomes for chronic smokers who had access to treatment for smoking cessation, using auriculotherapy, pharmacotherapy, or a combination of the two options, the authors observed a greater therapeutic result when auriculotherapy and drug therapy were combined. The authors contacted a sample of patients several months after they had completed or interrupted their smoking cessation treatment. Some patients had completed the treatment, until they had achieved full remission, while others had discontinued treatment before smoking cessation, either as a voluntary choice or because of other events, and other subjects dropped out after the first visit. Discussion: Based on patient contacts and chart reviews, auriculotherapy seems to be as effective as standard medication therapy for reducing nicotine craving and for achieving smoking cessation. Conclusions: This article describes three different protocols for smoking cessation. Ear acupuncture appears to be as effective as standard medication therapy for inducing smoking cessation and for controlling the nicotine withdrawal syndrome; this article addresses the rationale for combining these ear points and their locations, as well as the value of combining auriculotherapy with pharmacotherapy.