AcuDetox in a concurrent disorders setting

Thanks to the tireless work of Michael O Smith and the thousands of
NADA Trained Acudetox Specialist (ADS) throughout North America
and the world, the word is finally out about the efficacy of
acupuncture for the treatment of addictions. Surprisingly, ear acupuncture has yet to catch on in the mental health sector.

I have been working for one year at the Centre for Concurrent
Disorders (CCD) in Vancouver, BC, as an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist (ADS). The results I have seen
in patients have been positive and very promising. CCD is a Vancouver
Coastal Health funded program for people with mental health
and substance abuse issues.The centre runs
individual and group counselling , and now acupuncture. Unfortunately, due to the usual
financial constraints of not having a separate budget for acupuncture,
acupuncture groups are only offered once a week, with a second day
being considered. Originally, acupuncture was added
exclusively for detoxification purposes, but due to the infrequency of
sessions, as I illustrated to the director of the centre, the efficacy
and benefits of detoxification and reduction of withdrawal symptoms
have been greatly reduced. All that said, the results we saw were
revealing. Although the weekly acupuncture was found to have had only a small
effect on the withdrawal symptoms (as most clients were not in
immediate withdrawal), the clients expressed in qualifiable terms that
they were experiencing; an increased feeling of grounding and minimized
experiences related to anxiety, frustration and depression.

So although limited frequency of treatment was reducing the efficacy
of the detoxification application, the psycho-emotional findings were
extensive and qualifiable enough to warrant sustaining the program. In
general, acupuncture at CCD has succeeded in a lot of the same areas
where it succeeds in addiction centres; stress management, reluctant
clients, program retention and relapse prevention. Where it excelled
the most was in its non-verbal approach and emotional levelling. Just
like in a detox program, CCD is a "talk" based program, it's group
therapy and individual counselling are not as effective if someone is
lying or if they are unwilling, too shy, or reluctant, for whatever
reason, to speak. The frequency of the "non verbal" personality is
equal if not greater in a centre filled with people suffering from
crippling anxiety and or depression. Acupuncture can act as the
gateway in this situation, strengthening and grounding the person from
the inside out and allowing them to be involved in the program, even
if they are not yet ready to speak. Finally, the most important result
noted about the acupuncture was its effect on emotional levelling.

Most clients suffer from any combination of anxiety, depression, and
insomnia. With regular acupuncture visits, even at once a week, the
acupuncture was able to reduce the severity of the attacks. The
clients felt more grounded and less affected by external situations.
One client noted,

"I can feel a difference when I don't come to acupuncture one week. I
don't feel as grounded and I feel I am less in control of my emotions.
That's when I realized how much acupuncture was doing for me."

Some clients have expressed that acupuncture has proven to be the
catalyst towards stability and happiness in their daily lives. One
client even described acupuncture as something which completely
transformed his life.

The treatments have proved to be not only grounding but also
empowering. Clients manage their stress better; they are less likely
to have emotional outbursts and are given tools for coping with
everyday stress. The acupuncture has fit seamlessly into the centre
and is effective with patients both on and off psychiatric medication.

As for point protocol, because this program is not geared towards
immediate withdrawal, I have allowed for some modification depending
on the patient. The most common modifications are Yin tang, anxiety
point on the ear, Du 20, Du 23, An Mian and Si Shen Cong.

Just like my patients, I too can sleep easy now knowing there is a new
tool to help patients at the Centre for Concurrent Disorders, and
possibly in the future, other mental health facilities in the rest of
the country as well.

Emilie Salomons is a Practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine in
Vancouver, BC. She has a private practice in Yale Town and also works
for the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority doing acupuncture
detoxification.