|
Acupuncture- An Effective Method To Stop Smoking |
|
|
|
Much of the work in this area was stimulated by the
reports of Michael Smith, who developed an acupuncture protocol for
“drug detox” in the late 1970’s.
His work
focused especially on the use of ear acupuncture, following the work of
surgeon-acupuncturist Paul Nogier in France. Smith has also pursued the
question of the nature of addiction and the setting required to help
patients overcome addiction.
Though Smith’s
work was mainly involved with difficult inner-city drug problems like
heroin addiction, the principles and methods have been applied to
nicotine addiction in daily smokers.
Explanations for the role of
acupuncture in drug withdrawal, such as inducing enkephalins and
endorphins to reduce the anxiety and stress as the blood levels of the
drug decline, were proposed. The results of testing for these substances
have been somewhat contradictory.
Several state and city
governments have indicated their support by providing funds for
acupuncture centers focusing on drug withdrawal for illegal drugs or
illegal use of drugs Such support continues in several cities and an
organization to promote this methodology, the National Acupuncture
Detoxification Association (NADA), was formed in 1988. It has a current
membership of nearly half of all American acupuncturists.
There
is now great social reinforcement for stopping smoking. The medical
profession, to the extent it is represented by the largest member
organization, the American Medical Association, has taken up a campaign
to encourage all smokers to quit, regardless of their current health
status.
Public health messages about the harm associated with
smoking have dramatically increased in numbers. As a result, personal
support for continued restraint is easily obtained. Nonetheless, the
long-term quit rate for tobacco smoking appears to be holding fairly
constant, with slightly more than half of all people who take up the
habit giving it up at some time in their life.
The currently
accepted stop-smoking methods usually involve counseling plus
application of nicotine in doses that reduce craving for the drug while
being diminished gradually.
Nicotine patches and nicotine gum are
examples of delivery systems that separate the nicotine from the act of
smoking. The effectiveness of these methods can be determined with some
accuracy because it is possible to provide placebo alternatives and
observe the difference in smoking cessation rates.
Acupuncture to
stop smoking research involves daily treatment of volunteer patients.
Those who took up smoking late and who desire to stop smoking should
attain a high level of short-term effect, and the long-term effect
should be reasonably good, but not necessarily better than other methods
that take volunteer patients of similar characteristics.
Research
about acupuncture effects on smoking cessation have mostly been
conducted without a control group.
This means that all of the
non-specific effects of a stop-smoking program, such as the decision to
stop smoking, the regular visits to a stop-smoking assistant and the
cessation of smoking at least for a day or two during the program as
occur for those who do not quit the program.
All of this can
contribute to a positive outcome that could also be attained by a
placebo treatment. Therefore, it is difficult to know the full
contribution, if any, of acupuncture to the success rate of those who
want to stop smoking.
|
