The Role and Mechanism of Acupuncture Analgesia in the US Opioid Crisis Research

Tingting Zhu; Chengbo Zhen

doi:10.62177/apjcmr.v2i1.917

Authors

Tingting Zhu Summer Acupuncture
Chengbo Zhen Summer Acupuncture

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62177/apjcmr.v2i1.917

Keywords:

Acupuncture, Analgesic Mechanism, Opioid Crisis, Pain Management, Non-pharmacological Therapy

Abstract

The US opioid crisis has become a serious public health issue, causing tens of thousands of deaths and tremendous economic loss annually. Acupuncture, as a traditional non-pharmacological method of analgesia, has demonstrated extraordinary value in addressing this crisis. This paper systematically elucidates the causes and impacts of the US opioid crisis and deeply explores the neurobiological mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia, including the activation of the endogenous opioid system, neurotransmitter regulation, and anti-inflammatory and immune modulation via multiple pathways. By analyzing the clinical evidence for acupuncture in the management of acute and chronic pain, opioid dosage reduction, and addiction treatment, we demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of acupuncture as an alternative to opioid therapy. Research shows that acupuncture can not only effectively relieve various types of pain but also reduce opioid consumption and treat opioid dependence and addiction. However, the promotion of acupuncture in the US still faces multi-faceted challenges, including issues of standardization, limited insurance coverage, and insufficient high-quality evidence. Future efforts should focus on strengthening multidisciplinary research collaboration, improving standardized treatment protocols, and integrating acupuncture into comprehensive pain management systems to provide a safer, more cost-effective, non-pharmacological alternative for resolving the opioid crisis.

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