National Acupuncture Detoxification Association Research Articles

Auricular Therapy for Migraine.

Migraine brings hours or even days of disability, affecting 15% of the US population and one billion people worldwide. Migraine treatments have improved over the years and there is now a range of non-pharmacologic therapies that can be administered as monotherapy, combined with pharmacologic therapy or combined with other non-pharmacologic therapies to give greater options for those who do not tolerate, do not respond to, or who wish to reduce or avoid pharmacologic treatments. We conducted a review of the literature on auricular therapy as acute or preventive treatment for migraine, searching the databases of MEDLINE and ClinicalTrials.gov from 2013 to 2023. A total of 43 articles contained at least one search term, with three studies specific to acute or prevention of migraine (one for acute only, one for prevention only and one for both acute and prevention). The population was limited to, adults with migraine ages 18 or older, with the administration of auricular therapy as the intervention. While there have been studies on the use of auricular therapy for pain on two specific standardized auricular therapies, Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) and National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), neither of these protocols were utilized in any of the studies specific to migraine management. Each of the three studies used different techniques, with one using acupuncture needles and five specific points and two using semi-permanent needles (remained in for a few days) that were placed in areas that showed high activity. Each of these studies showed auricular therapy to have benefit for the management of migraine. However, the authors of each of the studies recommended further studies. Auricular therapy may be a helpful adjunctive treatment to abort a current migraine attack or aid in reducing the frequency or severity of migraine attacks.

NADA Acupuncture in Specialized Palliative Care: Patients’ and Family Caregivers’ Experiences

ContextOver the last 30 years, non-pharmacological treatment with ear acupuncture, including National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) acupuncture, has become popular in Western society to relieve cancer-related symptoms. ObjectivesThis study aim is to explore whether NADA acupuncture plays a role in relieving suffering experienced by patients hospitalized in a specialized palliative care ward and their family caregivers and whether it contributes to their coping skills. MethodsA qualitative study with a hermeneutic approach utilizing inductive thematic content analysis. Purposeful sampling took place in a specialized palliative care ward in Denmark and all data were collected through semi-structured interviews with patients and family caregivers as either individual or family interviews. ResultsA total of 10 patients and 15 family caregivers participated in interviews. Four themes emerged: (1) communication about treatment with NADA acupuncture, (2) relief of suffering generates extra energy and inner strength, (3) sharing the experience with the family is beneficial, and (4) physical and psychological effects after receiving NADA acupuncture. ConclusionPatients in palliative care and their family caregivers experienced relief of suffering after receiving NADA acupuncture, as well as improved well-being, and extra energy and inner strength to cope with their life situation. The ability to share NADA acupuncture gave family caregivers the feeling of being cared for and contributed to feelings of fellowship and togetherness within the family, strengthening their ability to communicate and cope.

NADA Ear Acupuncture and Medical Acupuncture for Pain- and Health-Related Quality of Life among Older Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Prospective Clinical Trial.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of the NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association)-standardized ear acupuncture protocol in comparison to medical acupuncture (MA) in the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP) in older adults. This was a prospective, clinical, single center, open label, comparative study. A total of 60 older patients with chronic nonspecific LBP were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into two groups. The MA group received treatment with medical acupuncture (MA), while the NADA group received NADA ear acupuncture once a day for 20 min, for a total of 10 sessions. The co-primary outcome measures were the reduction in pain intensity evaluated by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) compared to baseline and improvement in patients' quality of life (QOL) assessed in the SF-36 questionnaire before and after treatment; this was compared between the two groups. After two weeks of treatment, a significant reduction compared to baseline was observed in the NRS scores following treatment with medical acupuncture as well as after the utilization of NADA ear acupuncture protocol: NRS score for average pain experienced by the patients over the previous week (NRSa) MA: p = 0.002; NADA: p < 0.001, maximum NRS score in the past week (NRSm) MA: p < 0.001; NADA: p < 0.001, and NRS score at the time of examination (NRSe) MA: p = 0.001; NADA: p < 0.001. Reduction of the NRSa score compared to baseline was significantly greater in the NADA group (p = 0.034). Significant improvements in the QOL of patients according to the SF-36 questionnaire compared to baseline were observed in the MA group in the following domains: PF (p = 0.003), RP (p = 0.002), SF (p = 0.041), RE (p = 0.005), MH (p = 0.043), HT (p = 0.013), PCS (p = 0.004), and MCS (p = 0.025); and in the NADA group, in the following domains: PF (p = 0.004), RP (p = 0.048), BP (p = 0.001), VT (p = 0.035), RE (p = 0.006), MH (p < 0.001), HT (p = 0.003), PCS (p < 0.001), and MCS (p < 0.001). There were minor complications observed in 35% of patients (total of 20 participants); 31% (9 patients) in the MA group and 39% (11 patients) in the NADA group. These were minor and quickly resolved, including insertion point pain, minor bleeding after needle removal, and one instance of fainting. No patients in either group reported worsening of LBP. These complications occurred in 4.14% of MA sessions (12 times/290 sessions) and in 6.07% of NADA acupuncture sessions (16 times/280 sessions). The outcomes of this study suggest that both MA and NADA ear acupuncture could be a valuable and personalized component of a comprehensive approach to managing chronic nonspecific LBP in older patients. Incorporation of MA and NADA ear acupuncture into the clinical management of chronic nonspecific LBP in elderly patients has the potential to reduce pain intensity and improve the overall quality of life of affected individuals. However, further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Effects of Auriculo-Acupuncture on Sleep and Emotional Stress in Hispanic Immigrants: A Small Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: To investigate whether Hispanic immigrants with sleep disturbance showed improvements with auriculo-acupuncture mediated by emotional stress. Design: Single-blind randomized clinical trial. Settings/Location: Community. Subjects: Sixteen Hispanic male (N = 4) and female (N = 12) volunteers. Interventions: Bi-weekly intervention for eight total treatments of National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) auriculo-acupuncture or sham. Outcome Measures: Emotional distress and sleep measures were completed Baseline, Mid- (four treatments), and Follow-up (eight treatments). Comparisons between Groups and within sessions using Mixed-Model ANOVA; linear regression assessed emotional stress and sleep association. Results: Significant within-subjects effect of Session (p's <.05) with significant differences Baseline/Mid-Way and Baseline/Final (p's <.05). Linear Regression showed significant positive associations at Baseline. Conclusions: Community auriculo-acupuncture may improve sleep and emotional stress in Hispanic immigrants.

Acupuncture in Addiction Medicine: Its History, Evidence, and Possibilities.

Substance-use disorders (SUDs) and drug addiction are not only national, but also global health concerns that have worsened during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Acupuncture augments the endogenous opioid system and, therefore, has a theoretical basis as a treatment for opioid use disorders (OUDs). The basic science of acupuncture, its clinical research in addiction medicine, and decades of success of the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol offer positive findings supporting this protocol's utility for treating SUDs. Considering the mounting opioid/substance-use concerns and deficiencies in SUD treatment availability in the United States, acupuncture can be a safe, feasible treatment option and adjunct in addiction medicine. Furthermore, large governmental agencies are lending support to acupuncture for treating acute and chronic pain, which, in turn, could translate to prevention of SUDs and addictions. This article is a narrative review of the background, the basic science and clinical research, and future direction of acupuncture in addiction medicine.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Acupuncture on Suicidal Behavior: A Systematic Review.

In situations where death by suicide is a major global issue and effective prevention and management approaches are lacking, acupuncture improves some risk factors for suicide, including depression, and it has been used for a long time in clinical settings. Herein, we aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of suicidal behaviors. Fourteen electronic databases were searched for studies published up to 7 September 2022. Original interventional studies of acupuncture in suicide prevention were included. The primary outcome was the validated measure of suicidal ideation. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using an appropriate assessment tool. Due to the heterogeneity of the included studies, only qualitative analyses were conducted. Eight studies on manual acupuncture (50%), electro-acupuncture (37.5%), and acupressure (12.5%) were included. In particular, three studies (37.5%) used the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol to stimulate the bilateral sympathetic, Shenmen, kidney, liver, and lung auricular points. Acupuncture was effective in direct and indirect outcomes related to suicidal behavior, not only for participants with suicidal behavior, but also for those with other conditions, including depression. A decrease in salivary cortisol was the only biological indicator of acupuncture in patients with suicidal ideation. However, the methodological quality of the included studies was not optimal. In conclusion, acupuncture may reduce the risk of suicidal behavior in clinical and non-clinical populations. Owing to clinical heterogeneity, low methodological quality, and the small number of included studies, further high-quality studies should assess the effectiveness of acupuncture.

Auricular acupuncture for sleep quality in participants with mental and behavioral disorders due to prior multiple drug use: a retrospective consecutive case series.

Poor sleep quality is associated with psychoactive substance abuse/addiction/withdrawal. Auricular acupuncture (AA) is a nonpharmacological method used for the treatment of sleep disturbances. This study aimed to examine the quality of sleep before and after AA in participants with mental and behavioral disorders due to prior multiple drug use in the therapeutic community. This was a consecutive case series of 27 participants (25 male [92.6%]). The median age was 35.0 years (interquartile range [IQR], 29.0-37.2 years), methadone/buprenorphine were not used, and the participants were treated with AA (median number of treatments, 15.0 [IQR, 12.0-18.0]) during a median period of 51.0 days (IQR, 49.0-51.0 days) according to the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA)-Acudetox protocol. Sleep quality was determined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a self-rated questionnaire that assesses sleep quality and disturbances over a 1-month interval. The global PSQI score dropped (indicating better sleep quality) by a median of 3.0 points (IQR, 0.0-8.0 points) after treatment. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, with an increase in global PSQI score during AA by 1 point, there was a 0.73-fold reduction in the risk of poor sleep quality post-AA (adjusted odds ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-1.01; p<0.055; Nagelkerke's R2=0.66). The results revealed a positive effect of AA (by the NADA-Acudetox protocol) on sleep quality (as measured by PSQI) among participants in a treatment center with mental and behavioral disorders due to multiple drug use.

Acupuncture in the real world: evaluating a 15-year NADA auricular acupuncture service for breast cancer survivors experiencing hot flushes and night sweats as a consequence of adjuvant hormonal therapies

PurposeWhile clinical trials provide valuable data about efficacy of interventions, findings often do not translate into clinical settings. We report real world clinical outcomes of a 15-year service offering breast cancer survivors auricular acupuncture to manage hot flushes and night sweats (HFNS) associated with adjuvant hormonal treatments. This service evaluation aims to (1) assess whether usual practice alleviates symptoms in a clinically meaningful way and (2) compare these results with scientific evidence.MethodsData were analysed from 415 referrals to a service offering women eight standardised treatments using the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) protocol. Outcome measures administered at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and 4 and 18 weeks after EOT included hot flush diaries, hot flush rating scale (HFRS) and women’s health questionnaire (WHQ).ResultsOver 2285 treatments were given to 300 women; 275 (92.3%) completed all eight treatments. Median daily frequency of HFNS reduced from 9.6 (IQR 7.3) to 5.7 (IQR 5.8) at EOT and 6.3 (IQR 6.5) 18 weeks after EOT. HFRS problem rating showed a clinically meaningful reduction of ≥ 2 points at all measurement points. WHQ showed improvements in several symptoms associated with the menopause. Two adverse events were reported, neither were serious. Results are comparable to published research.ConclusionThis first analysis of a long-term auricular acupuncture service compares favourably with outcomes of other studies for reducing HFNS frequency and associated menopausal symptoms. In day-to-day clinical practice, NADA appears to be a safe effective intervention for breast cancer survivors.

Auricular Acupuncture to Facilitate Outpatient Opioid Weaning: A Randomized Pilot Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to integrate acupuncture within the standard of care during outpatient opioid tapering and assess impact of this treatment on cumulative withdrawal symptoms, psychologic distress, and pain. Methods: This prospective randomized controlled pilot study administered the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol following monthly opioid tapering. A total of 9 participants were randomized into the intervention group and compared with 6 participants who underwent the standard of care for outpatient opioid tapering. All providers prescribing medication management to both groups were blinded. Psychologic distress was evaluated using the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). The clinical institute narcotic assessment (CINA) measured subjective withdrawal symptoms and pain was assessed using the numerical rating scale (NRS). Results: Overall anxiety appeared slightly higher in the acupuncture group (HADS 7.0 compared with 6.5), however, depression was lower when compared with the standard of care group (HADS 4.0 compared with 6.5). The standard of care group reported more intense withdrawal symptoms (CINA 9.0 compared with 3.5) as well as higher pain scores (NRS 6.5 compared with 5.0). There were no statistically significant differences among the standard of care and acupuncture groups. Conclusions: This study suggests that auricular acupuncture may be implemented within the standard of care for patients undergoing outpatient opioid weaning regimens. Although results were not statistically significant, they support future research and reveal a promising expansion of treatment options for patients physically dependent on opioid medication. Clinical Trials.gov ID: NCT02882048.

Back to the Future: The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) Protocol Persists as an Agent of Social Justice and Community Healing by the People and for the People

NADA arose from a community response to inequities. NADA calls on the acupuncture community to support such community-based responses now...

Randomized controlled three-arm study of NADA acupuncture for alcohol addiction

IntroductionAlcohol addiction compromises cardiovascular health, possibly due to impaired control of the heart and vasculature by the autonomic nervous system. We aimed to assess the effects of National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) acupuncture on cardiovascular autonomic functions, psychiatric comorbidities and abstinence in patients addicted to alcohol. Material and methodsA randomized sham controlled three-arm study was undertaken in 72 patients (nine females, aged 43.7 ± 9.2 years, mean ± SD) undergoing in-patient rehabilitation for alcohol addiction. Patients were randomly allocated (1:1:1) to receive twenty 30-minute NADA or sham acupuncture sessions within six weeks or no intervention. They were evaluated for craving, depression, anxiety and autonomic control of the heart (heart rate variability, HRV), vasculature (laser Doppler flowmetry) and sweat glands (sympathetic skin response). Testing was performed at baseline, immediately post intervention (sham intervention or control period, respectively) and another four weeks later. Abstinence was assessed one year after study completion. ResultsPatients in the NADA arm displayed increased HRV immediately post-intervention compared to baseline (SDNN: 72.8 ms ± 34.2 ms vs. 57.9 ms ± 31.2 ms, p = 0.001). This increase was sustained four weeks later (66.2 ms ± 32.4 ms, p = 0.015). HRV remained unaltered following sham or no acupuncture (p = n.s.). Autonomic function of vasculature and sweat glands, psychiatric comorbidities and one-year abstinence did not differ between study arms. ConclusionsNADA acupuncture may improve autonomic cardiac function. However, this improvement appears not to translate into alleviation of psychiatric comorbidities or sustained abstinence.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Danish residential homes for people with severe mental illness: Use and perceived benefits of CAM in relation to recovery.

Mental health services in Denmark offer various rehabilitative treatment interventions to people with severe mental illness. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) such as National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) ear acupuncture are used as rehabilitative interventions. We investigated the use of CAM in four psychiatric residential homes, and whether CAM supports residents' rehabilitation and personal recovery. Residents in four selected residential homes participated in a questionnaire study, which elicited information on the use of CAM offered in a residential home setting. The study was conducted from February to November 2017. Recovery scores were assessed using the Mental Health Recovery Measure (MHRM). Of 131 eligible respondents, 68 (52%) participated. CAM was used by 84% of the residents. NADA ear acupuncture (38%) and music therapy (37%) were the most commonly used types of CAM. CAM is a commonly used rehabilitative intervention and more than 50% receiving treatment with CAM believed that it has supported their recovery process.

Exploring the Multiple Roles of Acupuncture in Alleviating the Opioid Crisis.

Exploring the Multiple Roles of Acupuncture in Alleviating the Opioid Crisis.

Reducing Anxiety and Improving Engagement in Health Care Providers Through an Auricular Acupuncture Intervention.

Stress and anxiety are experienced by health care providers as a consequence of caregiving and may result in physical, emotional, and psychological outcomes that negatively impact work engagement. The purpose of this study was to determine whether auricular acupuncture can reduce provider anxiety and improve work engagement. Study participants received 5 auricular acupuncture sessions within a 16-week period utilizing the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol for treating emotional trauma. Each participant completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9) prior to their first session and again after their fifth treatment. Significant reductions were found in state and trait anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), as well as significant increases in the overall scores on the UWES as compared with baseline. Only the dedication subcategory of the UWES showed significant improvement. Engagement has been linked to increased productivity and well-being and improved patient and organizational outcomes. Providing effective strategies such as auricular acupuncture to support health care providers in reducing anxiety in the workplace may improve engagement.

NADA Protocol for Behavioral Health. Putting Tools in the Hands of Behavioral Health Providers: The Case for Auricular Detoxification Specialists.

Background: The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) protocol, a simple standardized auricular treatment has the potential to provide vast public health relief on issues currently challenging our world. This includes but is not limited to addiction, such as the opioid epidemic, but also encompasses mental health, trauma, PTSD, chronic stress, and the symptoms associated with these conditions. Simple accessible tools that improve outcomes can make profound differences. We assert that the NADA protocol can have greatest impact when broadly applied by behavioral health professionals, Auricular Detoxification Specialists (ADSes). Methods: The concept of ADS is described and how current laws vary from state to state. Using available national data, a survey of practitioners in three selected states with vastly different laws regarding ADSes, and interviews of publicly funded programs which are successfully incorporating the NADA protocol, we consider possible effects of ADS-friendly conditions. Results: Data presented supports the idea that conditions conducive to ADS practice lead to greater implementation. Program interviews reflect settings in which adding ADSes can in turn lead to improved outcomes. Discussion: The primary purpose of non-acupuncturist ADSes is to expand the access of this simple but effective treatment to all who are suffering from addictions, stress, or trauma and to allow programs to incorporate acupuncture in the form of the NADA protocol at minimal cost, when and where it is needed. States that have changed laws to allow ADS practice for this standardized ear acupuncture protocol have seen increased access to this treatment, benefiting both patients and the programs.

NADA Ear Acupuncture: An Adjunctive Therapy to Improve and Maintain Positive Outcomes in Substance Abuse Treatment.

The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol (NADA) is an adjunctive therapy using 1 to 5 invariant ear acupuncture/acupressure points. This is a randomized prospective study to determine if NADA plus traditional treatment enhance outcomes: quality of life, depression, anxiety and abstinence from substance abuse. There were 100 patients enrolled in the Keystone Substance Abuse Services-Winthrop University Department of Sociology and Anthropology NADA study. All patients completed Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES) prior to starting the program and at program completion. Patients self-reported alcohol, tobacco, and drug use prior to starting the program at program completion and at 3 and 6 month follow- up. Patient characteristics are predictive of completion versus non-completion when race, criminal history and initial drug test is considered. Those identified as nonwhite, (p < 0.05) and patients with positive initial drug test, (p < 0.01) were more likely to complete treatment in the NADA group. Also, among patients with criminal history a higher percentage failed to complete the program in the control group (p < 0.05). Participation in NADA positively associated with Q-LES score (p < 0.05), feeling better about oneself and improved energy (p < 0.05), likelihood of employment upon discharge (p < 0.05), and decreased alcohol use at 3 month follow up (p < 0.05) and 6-month follow-up (p < 0.01). NADA group reported less tobacco use at 6 months (p < 0.05).

The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol, auricular acupuncture to support patients with substance abuse and behavioral health disorders: current perspectives.

The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA)-standardized 3- to 5-point ear acupuncture protocol, born of a community-minded response to turbulent times not unlike today, has evolved into the most widely implemented acupuncture-assisted protocol, not only for substance abuse, but also for broad behavioral health applications. This evolution happened despite inconsistent research support. This review highlights the history of the protocol and the research that followed its development. Promising, early randomized-controlled trials were followed by a mixed field of positive and negative studies that may serve as a whole to prove that NADA, despite its apparent simplicity, is neither a reductive nor an independent treatment, and the need to refine the research approaches. Particularly focusing on the last decade and its array of trials that elucidate aspects of NADA application and effects, the authors recommend that, going forward, research continues to explore the comparison of the NADA protocol added to accepted treatments to those treatments alone, recognizing that it is not a stand-alone procedure but a psychosocial intervention that affects the whole person and can augment outcomes from other treatment modalities.

The use of auricular acupuncture in opioid use disorder: A systematic literature review

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic disease with significant personal, societal, and public health consequences. Even for the minority who receive the most effective evidence-based treatments, morbidity, and mortality remain significant. These facts, along with the recovery movement calling for individualized, holistic, culturally sensitive care, have led to the exploration of adjunctive interventions including acupuncture. Despite hundreds of international trials, however, there is a lack of consensus regarding its efficacy in OUD due in large part to methodological issues of trials to date. In response to these issues, the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) developed an operationalized manual auricular acupuncture protocol that has since become the most widely used in the US. This systematic review is the first to focus explicitly on randomized trials utilizing the NADA protocol as a complementary intervention to address OUD. The methods utilized to identify studies for inclusion are based on a 2009 protocol developed by the Cochrane Collaboration. Four trials met inclusion criteria. Despite methodological issues, results indicate that while the NADA protocol may not be effective in reducing acute opiate craving or withdrawal, it may be effectively utilized as an adjunctive treatment to increase treatment retention and decrease methadone detoxification and maintenance dosages in OUD. Incorporation of the NADA protocol into existing evidence-based treatment approaches may facilitate recovery and, through its impact on treatment retention and completion, indirectly impact morbidity, and mortality in individuals with OUD. Given the limitations of the current review, conclusions are tentative and directions for future research are discussed. (Am J Addict 2016;25:592-602).

Implementation of the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association Protocol in a Community Mental Health Setting.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients' satisfaction with National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) acupuncture services in two community mental health settings. Cross-sectional, mixed-methods study. Participants who had participated in acupuncture services were given a survey that contained both quantitative and qualitative items. Participants were recruited from two community mental health centers in the New England area. Fifty patients enrolled in community mental health centers. They were eligible to participate in the study if they had attended at least one acupuncture session. Twenty-five percent of the sample comprised monolingual Spanish-speakers. Participants had received at least one session of auricular acupuncture according to the NADA protocol. Participants completed a satisfaction survey that contained 10 items in English or Spanish. On a 5-point Likert scale, participants reported that they found acupuncture beneficial (mean, 4.35; standard deviation, 0.78). Data from the qualitative items were analyzed and revealed two prominent themes: (1) relaxation and (2) improved focus and concentration. Eight percent of the sample reported no benefit of acupuncture during the session. Overall, the patients reported high satisfaction with the acupuncture services received, as well as a variety of benefits (relaxation, improved focus and concentration, improvement in psychiatric symptoms or substance use craving, and somatic benefits).

Establishing an animal model for National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) auricular acupuncture protocol

The use of opioids in the treatment of chronic pain has increased dramatically in the past few decades making them one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the US. However, long-term use of opioids is limited by development of tolerance (decreased antinociceptive efficacy) and opioid-induced hyperalgesia − paradoxical sensitization to noxious (hyperalgesia) and non-noxious (allodynia) stimuli. Novel adjunctive therapies are needed to increase the efficacy and prolong the duration of action of opioids in chronic pain treatment.Acupuncture is often used as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of symptoms induced by non-clinical use of opioids. The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) auricular acupuncture protocol is the most common form of acupuncture treatment for substance abuse. The standardized, easy to use and virtually painless procedure make it an attractive complementary treatment option for patients suffering from opioid-induced adverse effects. Clinical trials designed to test the efficacy of the NADA protocol yielded contradictory results. The mechanism by which NADA acupuncture could serve as a successful treatment remains unknown. Therefore, establishing an animal model of NADA acupuncture can provide a tool for investigating the efficacy and cellular mechanisms of NADA treatment.Previous studies have shown that repeated morphine administration in rodents can produce locomotor sensitization and reduce analgesic potency of a challenge dose of morphine, indicating development of morphine tolerance. Here we show that NADA acupuncture treatment can both reduce morphine-induced locomotor sensitization and prevent the development of morphine tolerance in rats, thus validating a new model for NADA acupuncture studies. Our data provides support for evidence-based use of NADA acupuncture as a new adjunctive approach that can potentially improve the side-effect profile of morphine and other prescription opioids.