The authors randomly assigned 60 subjects entering methadone maintenan
ce treatment to receive ''specific'' or ''non-specific'' (placebo) aur
icular acupuncture; patients were followed for 6 months. The two group
s did not differ in acupuncture attendance self-reported withdrawal sy
mptoms, or drug use, by self-report or urinalysis. Their reports of he
roin and cocaine cravings differed in a direction opposite to expectat
ion, with greater cravings in the specific than the nonspecific group.
The combined acupuncture groups had fewer cocaine-positive urine resu
lts than a no-acupuncture historical comparison group over the 6 month
s. Results are discussed in relation to recruitment for such studies,
selection of-an appropriate acupuncture placebo, and the need to contr
ol for potentially confounding variables in future studies.