Abstract

LOPEZ-SUESCUN, Hernán; COTE-MENENDEZ, Miguel  and  ROJAS-RAMIREZ, Héctor. Acupuncture a viable treatment for addictions in Colombia. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2013, vol.61, n.3, pp.301-310. ISSN 0120-0011.

Summary The acupuncture is an ancient therapy developed in China, which has shown to be effective for symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and toothache. Despite the physiological basis that would enable effective use in other diseases, including the field of addictions, studies are contradictories, possibly because of the differences in focus between the eastern and western medicine. Psychoactive consumption is a public health problem in Colombia and in the world that generates large tangible and intangible costs, which, in developed countries, can rise up to 1.6 % of GDP. In contrast, the economic benefit of treatment addictions, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is between 1:3 to 1:13. S any effort made in favor of consumers is gain; this is why international organizations have created policies to help mitigating these effects. Colombia, as a member of these organizations, has made several commitments to accomplish these goals. Auriculotherapy treatments, as the protocol NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association), are the most widely used methods for addictions in the world and although it has not achieved demonstrate their effectiveness. Their cost, ease and little risk to adverse effects makes it viable in a country with few economic resources as Colombia.

Keywords : Acupuncture; street drugs; therapeutics.

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