Acupuncture Supports Methadone Reduction, Curbs Opioid Cravings

Background: Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is an effective therapy for opioid use disorder (OUD), but its prolonged use is associated with adverse effects such as constipation. Strategies for safe dose reduction without increasing withdrawal symptoms or opioid cravings are needed. Acupuncture has been explored as a potential adjunct to MMT, but high-quality evidence remains limited. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture in reducing methadone dosage and opioid cravings. Design: Multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial conducted across 6 MMT clinics in China. Participants: Adults aged ≤65 years with OUD who had been on MMT for ≥6 weeks and attended daily clinic visits. Methods: Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either acupuncture (n=60) or sham acupuncture (n=58). They received their assigned intervention 3 times per week for 8 weeks. The primary outcomes were (1) the proportion of patients achie more...