Acupuncture to aid drug addicts

www.chinaview.cn 2004-08-10 13:45:54

BEIJING, Aug.10(Xinhuanet) -- A Chinese hospital is planning to
treat hard-core drug addicts with a form of acupuncture that doctors
say can cure them of their urge to use narcotics.

The technique is based on acupuncture's analgesic mechanism,
which has been successfully used in the past to help people overcome
addiction to morphine, CRIENGLISH.com reported Tuesday.

Doctors will place needles in the brain to stimulate the areas
that inhibit the desire to use drugs.

They say the technique is far less damaging than a controversial
treatment that removes the nucleus accubem, a part of the brain, to
stem craving for drugs.

If the trial program goes as planned, patients will be able to
undergo the procedure very soon after doctors receive approval.
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CRIENGLISH.com