The United States is currently experiencing an addiction epidemic on levels unseen since the crack epidemic of the 1980s, and opioids are at the center of this crisis.
A recent study conducted by physicians in several Melbourne hospitals’ emergency departments found that treating patients’ pain with acupuncture was just as effective as western medicines at treating pain.
Not only is acupuncture effective, it is relatively low cost. Studies have shown conclusively that while acupuncture is as or more effective than western interventions at treating a variety of pain disorders, it is also lower cost to administer than many western interventions. Add in the diminished quality of life and complications that opioid addiction can cause to a person, family, community and economy, and acupuncture is both a cost- and medically-effective choice.
The simplicity of acupuncture as a treatment modality, especially its complete independence from pharmaceuticals of any kind, makes it especially attractive to people looking to avoid adding harsh chemicals to their body. This is an especially important concern for those with past histories of substance abuse. Anyone experiencing chronic pain deserves to know that acupuncture is an effective treatment option for pain management available at a relatively low cost.