ACUPUNCTURE AS AN ADJUNCT TO METHADONE TREATMENT SERVICES

The authors randomly assigned 60 subjects entering methadone maintenance treatment to receive ''specific'' or ''non-specific'' (placebo) auricular acupuncture; patients were followed for 6 months. The two groups did not differ in acupuncture attendance self-reported withdrawal symptoms, or drug use, by self-report or urinalysis. Their reports of heroin and cocaine cravings differed in a direction opposite to expectation, with greater cravings in the specific than the nonspecific group. The combined acupuncture groups had fewer cocaine-positive urine results than a no-acupuncture historical comparison group over the 6 months. Results are discussed in relation to recruitment for such studies, selection of-an appropriate acupuncture placebo, and the need to control for potentially confounding variables in future studies.