and sorted 120 heroin users into four groups: an acupuncture group, a control group, a group receiving sham treatment, and a group receiving only lower back acupuncture treatment. The findings were similar. Depression and anxiety levels went down, but withdrawal symptoms were still elevated. They concluded that acupuncture therapy relieved psychological symptoms of opioid addiction but not the addiction itself.
Although acupuncture is generally dismissed by Western doctors, patients have felt positive effects. Neipris, who is also a licensed acupuncturist, feels that if patients want to give it a chance, it could be a useful tool.
“Acupuncture can be a great adjunct treatment [for people] working towards being clean and sober,” Neipris said.
