Acupuncture in the treatment of addiction: a review and analysis.

Many claims have been made about the usefulness of acupuncture as an analgesic and in the cure of certain conditions. The background of some of these claims is examined as are alternative hypotheses for some of the observations that have been reported. The studies that have served as the basis of much of what has been said and written about the use of acupuncture in the management of addictions are reviewed and found to fall seriously short of adequate clinical trials. The utility of acupuncture remains unproven, and some directions for future research are suggested.