How often do clients need to be treated?

Resources for Acupuncture in Chemical Dependency Treatment and Recovery

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

What kinds of agencies or services should think about adding an acupuncture component?

Does acupuncture really work?

Are there any drugs that it doesn't work for?

Does it help with other addictions?

How much does it cost?

How do programs pay for it?

Is acupuncture safe? What are the liability issues? Is there increased risk of spreading infectious disease?

Does the treatment hurt?

How much time does the treatment take?

Do clients need to make an appointment for acupuncture?

What do clients do while they're getting needled?

How often do clients need to be treated?

Optimally, acupuncture works in the same one-day-at-a-time rhythm as recovery, so the clinic is open daily, and it is "barrier-free" in that clients can return at a frequency of their own choosing.

Some mandated or "drug court" programs prescribe the following phase guidelines for clients, and these are recommended as a "rule of thumb" for establishing recommended treatment frequency following the client's last use episode:

First 30 days: daily
Next 60 days: three times weekly
Next 90 days: twice weekly

To all of these should be added, "or as needed," because clients will find their own rhythm as they begin to stabilize.

Some very successful drug-free detox programs provide the treatment twice daily (morning and late afternoon) for persons in acute withdrawal from drugs like alcohol and opiates. And increased treatment frequency is appropriately recommended for clients who have a use episode, or who are experiencing severe post-acute withdrawal, or prior to life situations that are likely to be stressful.

Requiring clients to increase acupuncture frequency should never be used for punitive reasons!

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