ACUDETOX AT SERENITY HOUSE

  In October of 2003 the counseling and nursing staff of Serenity House participated in a 3 day training to learn about acudetox.   A fourth day of training took place in April of 2004 at Serenity house. All staff members were pinned during their training.  Serenity House may well have been the first acudetox provider in a treatment center in Vermont. 

Acudetox is for people in recovery. It involves placing 5 needles in each ear. Treatments are done in a group setting and have been shown to be helpful in the relief of symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol, heroin, cocaine and other drugs. Participants often experience a lifting of anxiety, cravings, tension and drug dreams. When clients are asked after a session how they felt acudetox affected them, the answers vary from “it is good; it is all right,” to “awesome; I wish I could do this when I leave here.”  Clients usually sleep better after a session.

Auricular acupuncture as a treatment for substance abuse began in 1974 at New York South Bronx Lincoln Hospital.  Drug addiction was a major issue and a methadone program had been initiated in 1970. Dr. Michael O. Smith, MD, a psychiatrist and part time employee in the detox program, decided to institute detoxification treatment with acupuncture as a substitute for methadone. In 1978 the clinic discontinued providing methadone. It became clear in the mid 1980s that the 5 point auricular acupuncture protocol was effective in assisting crack addicted persons to become and remain clean. The term acudetox was given to this treatment in 1985.  Treatment is integrated with conventional elements of counseling.

Acudetox has been available at Serenity House since October of 2003 under supervision of a licensed acupuncturist. Sessions take place 5

times a week for any client who wants to participate.  Clients feel little or no pain at the time of insertion of the needles and none during the 30 minutes of treatment. Most clients feel relaxed and feel greater ability to focus.  The acudetox treatment is a non-verbal process that does not require extended interviews or disclosure of personal information. It can be an initial treatment before a client establishes a relationship with the counseling staff, before assessments or diagnosis.  Clients feel that they are being helped immediately.

Dr. Smith also developed an herbal formula known as “sleep mix”. Serenity House has sleep mix tea bags available to all clients. They are encouraged to make a cup of tea any time they feel the need and especially shortly before bed time.

Client  comments include:

“I feel like a weight has been removed from my shoulders, all of a sudden I can think ahead and be positive.”

“I was very emotional as soon as the session started. The tears were very healing.”

“With the pins in, I started thinking of a warm place and I stayed there the whole time. It felt so good.”

“At first I did not want to do it, because I am afraid of needles. But the other clients

talked me into it and now I am glad I did it. I did not feel the pins at all.”