Abstract
Acupuncture and electrical stimulation (AES) has been successfully used in the treatment of heroin abusers since 1972. At the present moment there are three ways of treating the drug abusers with AES. They can be in-patients, out-patients, or in-patients in combination with naloxone hydrochloride (Narcan). The technique of AES is very simple to apply. It involves under sterile technique, of inserting a i inch 30 or 32 gauge acupuncture needle subcutaneously for 2-3 mm in the concha of both ears, which is referred to as the lung point. Electrical stimulation is given for 30-45 minutes at 125 cycles/sec. for each treatment time. The voltage varied from each individual usually ranges from 3-4 volts. This technique is applied both to the in-patient and the out-patient drug abusers. The technique of the inpatient in combination with naloxone is somewhat different. The AES was started ½ hour earlier and is continuously carried out during the naloxone injection, which is given subcutaneously. The dosage of which is increased gradually till 0.8 mgm had been given in 3 hours time. This technique could wean the drug abusers in a very short period of time. After weaning the heroin abusers off their drugs, they should be sent for psycho-social rehabilitation.
Biochemically it was found that CSF met-enkephalin was increased by AES treatment but not beta-endorphin. Further elaboration of the clinical method of treatment, biochemical result will be presented by slides and movie film.
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