Resources for Acupuncture in Chemical Dependency Treatment and Recovery
In all cases, the acupuncture
should be provided at the treatment site. In States that have an "acu-detox"
law, needling may be done by existing staff with special training provided
by the National Acupuncture Detoxification
Association (NADA).
Other States have differing laws governing who may perform acupuncture - usually licensed acupuncturists, or in some cases chiropractors or other medical professionals. Contact your state's Board of Medical Examiners for specific information.
These professionals are in
private practice and are generally available on contract or at an hourly
rate. The hourly rate
will depend significantly upon how many of these professionals are available
in your locale. In rural or outlying areas, travel time may also need
to be reimbursed.
In all cases, it is
essential - and in some states even required - that people doing the needling
be certified by NADA,
which provides this training and service through a network of Registered
Trainers. If your budget allows, key administrative and clinical staff
should also participate in the NADA training before program start-up.
Some level of training is strongly recommended for all program staff when the acupuncture component is added - even those not assigned to the clinic - to help assure the program's success.
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How many clients can be treated at once?
How often do clients need to be treated?
How long to clients have to keep having treatments?
Does it matter what time of day the acupuncture is provided?
What
national organizations support acupuncture in treating addiction? What
resources are available to support us if we decide to do it?
Does
the acupuncture program have to include herbs or nutritional supplements?
What
is the history of how acupuncture began to be used in chemical dependency
treatment?
What
does the acupuncture clinic look like exactly?
How
much space and extra equipment will we need to do it?
How
do we clean or dispose of the needles after they are used?
How
does acupuncture fit with drug testing?
How
do we find and train people to do the needling?
Could
we just try it experimentally to make sure it's a good fit for us?
What
technical assistance will be required to start and maintain an acupuncture
component?
Is
it compatible with harm reduction?
Is
it compatible with 12-Step or abstinence-based treatment approaches?
Is
it appropriate for mandated or court-referred clients?
Is
it appropriate for adolescents?
Is
it appropriate for pregnant women?
Is
it appropriate for people with co-morbid psychiatric problems?
Is
it appropriate for people with HIV/AIDS?
Is
it appropriate in methadone programs?
Is
it appropriate in residential programs?
What
training is required for current program and administrative staff?
What are the steps we should take to add an acupuncture component?