Acupuncture and the Opioid Epidemic in America

The opioid epidemic has become a significant public health crisis in the United States of America. This crisis has elicited a response at high levels of governmental and health care organizations including the American College of Physicians, the Food and Drug Administration, the Joint Commission, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, the National Association of Attorneys General, and the White House. In various ways, these organizations have recognized that acupuncture can play an important role in dealing with the opioid epidemic. This paper presents and analyzes the scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of acupuncture in regard to opioid addiction.