Encouraging Community Wellness for Behavioral Health (Addiction,NCDs and Mental Health)

The Indian Association of Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists (IAADS) submitted its SMART Commitments in support of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 , which were formally acknowledged at the Closing Ceremony of the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine , held in New Delhi on 19 December 2024 . Submitted by Dr. Ajay, President of IAADS , the presentation took place in the presence of the Honourable Prime Minister of India , the WHO Director-General , and the Honourable Union Ministers for Health and Family Welfare and AYUSH , highlighting India’s leadership in ethical, community-based Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) . The Indian Association of Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists (IAADS) is honoured to share that its SMART Commitments were among sixty global commitments submitted in support of the World Health Organization’s Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034. These commitments were formally acknowledged during t...

  From Confrontation to Compassion: Indianizing Prevention and Restoring Human Dignity in Drug Response By *Suneel Vatsyayan The journey from confrontation to compassion in India’s drug response is not merely a professional reflection—it’s a personal one. It began for me in 1985, when I met a 16-year-old boy struggling with petrol sniffing. Brought by his mother to the Observation Home for Boys near Delhi Gate, this moment left an indelible impact. It was before I officially joined Navjyoti, but it became the seed of my lifelong commitment to humanizing addiction treatment. When I joined Navjyoti , established under the Delhi Police Foundation for Correction, De-addiction, and Rehabilitation in 1987, I came as a trained social worker—not just to treat symptoms, but to restore dignity. Back then, and still today, I hold this belief: No human being should be reduced to their addiction . The challenge of substance use is not merely medical—it is deeply social, cultural, and spiritual....

Tobacco Cessation: From Inner Calm to AI-Driven Solutions —  A Path Shaped by NADA protocol In an era increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence and digital innovations, tobacco cessation strategies must evolve to address both emotional and technological dimensions. While AI-powered conversational solutions offer promising avenues to assist individuals in quitting tobacco and preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the most profound change often begins internally.  As Dr. Michael O. Smith, founder of the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), aptly stated, “NADA acupuncture teaches us to relax from the inside out.”  This internal transformation is crucial. Individuals, particularly adolescents, youth, women, and marginalized communities, often grapple with stress, trauma, or stigma, making discussions about tobacco use, mental health, or domestic violence challenging. To surmount these barriers, a fusion of compassionate, community-based met...

  This milestone celebrates not just the protocol but the spirit of resilience and hope it embodies. A must-watch for those inspired by stories of change, equity, and healing! Celebrating 50 Years of the NADA Protocol A remarkable journey of healing and empowerment! A new film captures the incredible legacy and worldwide acceptance of the NADA Protocol, pioneered by the visionary Dr. Michael O. Smith in the U.S. The documentary highlights the profound impact of this ear acupuncture technique on communities globally, including its inspiring adoption in India. I feel privileged to have shared moments with Dr. Michael O. Smith during his numerous visits to India and with Dr. Khensu Carter, who accompanied him. My last meeting with Dr. Carter, a practicing psychiatrist and professor at UCLA Psychiatry, was in New York in 2018. The film also delves into Dr. Carter's reflections on the emergence of movements like the Black Panthers and the Young Lords and their intersection with the NADA...

  * A statement about Michael Smith We are respectfully submitting this history as we, his family, experienced it. We hope it is helpful. Deborah Valentine Smith I recently attended an excellent webinar on t he African American History of Acupuncture by  Dr.  Tenisha Dandridge, hosted by Acupuncturists without Borders. The history of Lincoln Hospital and Lincoln Detox in the 1970’s was of special interest to me,  as I participated in much of it and may have a unique perspective, as I was married to Mike Smith at the time. While I appreciated much of the history shared in this Webinar, I can’t agree with a couple of the statements about Mike. The statement in Dr. Dandridge’s presentation that “he did not approve of the politics brought with the free clinics,” makes it sound like Mike did not approve of the free clinics themselves. Mike’s history as a medical student and doctor was all about free clinics. Mike started working with the Black Panther Party when...