Acupuncture Reduces Methadone Dose, Opioid Craving

For individuals battling opioid use disorder and undergoing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), acupuncture shows promising results in reducing both methadone dosage and opioid cravings. This finding comes from a study published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine, spearheaded by Dr. Liming Lu and his team from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, China.

The study was a multicenter, randomized controlled trial conducted across six MMT clinics in China. Participants, all aged 65 years or younger, had been receiving MMT for a minimum of six weeks. A total of 118 individuals were involved, with 60 participants receiving acupuncture and 58 receiving sham acupuncture. The interventions were administered three times a week over an eight-week period.

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing the methadone dose among individuals undergoing MMT. Remarkably, the results indicated that a significantly higher percentage of patients in the acupuncture group reduced their methadone dose by 20 percent or more by the end of the eight weeks, compared to those in the sham acupuncture group (62 percent versus 29 percent).

Additionally, acupuncture proved to be more effective in diminishing opioid cravings. This was measured using a visual analog scale, where the acupuncture group showed a mean difference of −11.7 mm compared to the sham group. This suggests a substantial reduction in craving intensity for those who received acupuncture.

The authors of the study emphasized the potential implications of these findings. While they acknowledged the need for further research to evaluate long-term clinical outcomes and to fine-tune the integration of acupuncture into comprehensive substance misuse treatment programs, they believe the results advocate for considering acupuncture as a viable method to aid in methadone reduction for those on MMT.

The study's insights offer a promising avenue for improving the treatment and management of opioid use disorder. Given the growing opioid crisis, the potential of acupuncture to enhance methadone maintenance therapy could significantly impact public health strategies. Further investigations will undoubtedly help to cement the role of acupuncture in this context and optimize its application for individuals struggling with opioid dependence.