ROCK HILL, SC Keystone Substance Abuse Services is pleased to announce they have had
a study published in Behavioral Sciences and is available online: The article is titled “NADA Ear
Acupuncture: An Adjunctive Therapy to Improve and Maintain Positive Outcomes in Substance
Abuse Treatment.”
This study was conducted in partnership with Keystone Substance Abuse Services, Rock Hill,
SC; Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC – Jonathan Marx, PH.D; Kenneth Carter, MD, MPH;
Simon Cairns, L.Ac.; and Michelle Olshan-Perlmutter, PMHCNS, FNP. Special thanks to Dr.
Marx for his tremendous efforts with this project. Below is an abstract explaining the study.
Abstract: 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).
A PDF Version can be found at: http://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/7/2/37/pdf.
Organization Contact:
Monica Hanna
Marketing and Event Coordinator
Keystone Substance Abuse Services
803-324-4118
[email protected]