ANNIHILATING ADDICTIONS

Acupuncture, In Conjunction With Other Treatments, Is Highly Effective

The drug and alcohol cravings that 28-year-old Astrid gets are being
suppressed thanks in part to the ancient Chinese healing art of acupuncture.

Astrid was an addict for 17 years before starting treatment with this form
of alternative medicine that mostly has been used to treat chronic pain.

"During that time, I've never had more than 14 days 'clean time' - until
now," says Astrid, who lives in Madison and whose real name is being
withheld for confidentiality purposes.

She has been clean for 104 days.

Astrid is participating in the alcohol and drug rehabilitation program of
ARC Community Services as she deals with longtime addictions to heroin,
cocaine, prescription drugs and alcohol. Along with counseling, she says
acupuncture is helping her recover.

"After a treatment, I'm not all tensed up," she says.

Acupuncture's calming effect also is being experienced by 40-year-old
Maleakia of Madison, who's participating in ARC's rehab program too. "I'm
not fond of needles, but I still think acupuncture is helping me feel more
relaxed," she says.

Maleakia - who also is using a fictitious name - is proud of her successes
in battling multiple addictions.

Use of acupuncture as an alternative treatment in drug rehab programs is
increasing across the country. Studies have shown that combining this
ancient healing form with other types of treatment is highly effective.

"We're not conducting research here, but women in our program tell us that
acupuncture gives them an extra boost in their recovery," says Terry
Bucheger-Aissa, director of AODA Services for ARC Community Services. Her
program - which is housed at the ARC Center for Women & Children, 1409 Emil
St. - focuses on helping low-income women.

Similar results appeared in a Yale Medical School study that was published
last year in medical journals.

"Simply put, acupuncture seems to help reduce stress for these women whose
lives are just filled with chaotic situations and disorganized thinking,"
Bucheger-Aissa says.

The ARC Center also offers prenatal care for expectant mothers who are
substance abusers, "and they're telling us that acupuncture helps them get
through withdrawal symptoms," Bucheger-Aissa says.

Certified acupuncturist Debra Friedman of Bioenergy Clinic, 4333 Nakoma
Road, volunteers her time twice a week to provide this service for women
substance abusers participating in ARC programs.

Each week, more women show up for treatment - sometimes as many as 35,
Friedman says. "After about a year, we're now running out of acupuncture
needles so we're looking for more funding."

Acupuncture is not a stand-alone treatment for drug detoxification,
Friedman says, "but combining a five-needle ear treatment with counseling,
for example, has been shown to be highly effective."

The practice of using acupuncture for addictions became established in the
United States about 25 years ago, Friedman says, and increasingly, drug
rehab programs are adding the centuries-old healing technique to their
treatment options.

"It's relatively new here, but many cities around the country - including
Miami, San Francisco and Portland, Ore. - actually have acupuncturists on
staff in their jails to treat inmates struggling with addictions," says
Friedman, a registered trainer for the National Acupuncture Detoxification
Association.

Research has shown that acupuncture reduces hostility and anger in
treatment programs, she says.

"Acupuncture allows the energy of a person to become more calm, more
centered and more balanced," Friedman says, "so they're less triggered by
stresses that might push them into using their abusive substance."

The ear is the point of needle insertion because the ear is the antenna to
the body's inner energy field, Friedman says. Additionally, the patient
does not need to disrobe or lie down, making the procedure more
cost-effective, Friedman says.

Dr. Joseph Blustein, a certified physician acupuncturist in Madison and
also a registered trainer for NADA, offers training to drug rehab
counselors - including some at Dane County Mental Health and NewStart - on
the technique of ear acupuncture. There are plans to incorporate it into
the drug detoxification programs of those organizations later this year.

"Research is very supportive of the role of acupuncture in drug and alcohol
recovery," he says. "In fact, follow-up studies show that there's less
likelihood of a relapse when acupuncture is part of the treatment program."

Another positive is that acupuncture has been shown to be effective with
both men and women in drug rehab programs, he says.

Blustein does acupuncture on a volunteer basis with the SMART Recovery
program for AODA in Madison. Susan Knox, a certified acupuncturist in
Cambridge, also does ear treatments for men and women at the local SMART
Recovery support group, which meets at the WilMar Neighborhood Center.

"Uses of acupuncture are broadening in this country, and it certainly can
help with detoxifying the body and calming things down," says Knox, who's
associated with the Cambridge Family Acupuncture Center.

Knox also volunteers with the AODA program at ARC, "where women often come
for acupuncture treatment when they know a stressful situation is coming
up," she says.

"Acupuncture is non-emotionally invasive, so it's a good alternative for
someone who might not be ready to talk about their problems."

Such issues, however, eventually will need to be dealt with to avoid
relapses, she adds.