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

NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) acupuncture is a simple standardized three to five point auricular needle protocol that originated as a grassroots response to opiate addiction in the 1970’s.   It is increasingly recognized as a nonspecific behavioral health intervention of notable utility in a wide variety of other psychiatric settings and conditions . NADA Protocol Beyond the actual needle treatment, a key element of the protocol specifies qualities of behavior and attitude on the part of the clinician, consistent with what is known as the Spirit of NADA. Mile stones Nada India was registered as a Trust in New Delhi on15th March 2001 with sole objective of promoting barrier free services. Capacity Building: Acudetox Training workshops have been conducted and acudetox programs have been set up in states/UT like Andhra Pradesh , Delhi, Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal, Utter Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajas...

Dear NADA Friends, In the 90’s we were asked to train a US doctor and nurse to set up non-pharma hospital detox unit in 3 Saudi hospitals serving only the royal family (in Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah).  Most of the protocol (12 steps,  family groups, etc.) was rejected after one year as not being culturally appropriate.  NADA was used 10 years more,  indeed it may be still being used.  I have never heard any negative feedback from Saudi.  My colleague, Larry Taylor trained many doctors from Musilm countries in Africa and the Middle East over several years.  Later he trained NADA trainers in each hospital before returning to Arkansas.  They liked me to sign their certificates  with a special stamp.  I conducted a 2 hour case conference through the US embassy   Each of the 20 doctors asked 2 questions.  No one was skeptical about acupuncture;  no one said it was from an alien culture.  Also in the 80’s or...

Destruction in Port-au-Prince In 2010, a major earthquake hit Haiti, causing massive injury, death and damage to infrastructure.  We began planning a trip to Haiti in the hopes of providing treatment and training options to the devastated populace.  The situation on the ground was extremely challenging.  Communication, personal security, corruption, and disease were already problems in Haiti before the earthquake, all of which got much worse after the natural disaster. Treatments in one of the tent camps We networked with a group of American Naturopathic Physicians also planning a relief mission, and networked through international and local non-profit agencies to arrange housing, transportation, and access to patient populations.  We provided training to a diverse group of healthcare workers, community volunteers and university students in the medical field.  Clinical training was done at several of the extensive “tent cities” that spread ac...

From the desk of Dr.Michael O.Smith.... Friends and Colleagues, The state of Colorado has just passed a creative new ADS law which will be a big boost to NADA outreach and service in potentially many states. The summary of SB  13-207:  The bill allows a licensed, registered or certified mental health care professional, who has been appropriately trained,  to perform auricular acudetox.  The auricular Acudetox must be performed within the health care professional’s current scope of practice. Don’t brag, just inform the key representatives of professionals in your state that Colorado has found a new approach that is better for their members as well as patient care and, for that reason also societal safety. In Colorado there was a lot of sympathy for this position even though there no heavy advocates and no prior  ADS law only a couple of years of nurse NADA practice.  That is the idea sort sells itself, and it is a convenient ex...

  SOLIDARITY STATEMENT OF NADA PHILIPPINES AT THE 24 TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF  NADA USA  Denver, Colorado May 2-4, 2013 We feel deeply honored to be part of this event as we express our solidarity with NADA USA on this, their 24 th Annual Conference with the theme, “Fostering  Community Resilience and Healing”.   This theme resonates very much with the vision that NADA Philippines has taken up for itself, since its soft launching in October 2010.  We envision  “ a society wherein organized communities can provide their members with affordable and accessible treatment for physical and mental health conditions through ear acupuncture detoxification used in conjunction with other treatment modalities”.  In a country that is beleaguered with social problems affecting a huge number of people and communities, harnessing the inner strength of the people inside the communities can only be the best recourse for healing and recovery. ...

From the Desk of Dr.Michael. O.Smith.... ....In the 90’s we were asked to train a US doctor and nurse to set up non-pharma hospital detox unit in 3 Saudi hospitals serving only the royal family (in Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah).   Most of the protocol (12 steps,   family groups, etc.) was rejected after one year as not being culturally appropriate.   NADA was used 10 years more,   indeed it may be still being used.   I have never heard any negative feedback from Saudi.   My colleague, Larry Taylor trained many doctors from Musilm countries in Africa and the Middle East over several years.   Later he trained NADA trainers in each hospital before returning to Arkansas.   They liked me to sign their certificates   with a special stamp.   I conducted a 2 hour case conference through the US embassy    Each of the 20 doctors asked 2 questions.   No one was skeptical about acupuncture;   no one said it was from an al...

  Acudetox India training in the year 2001 at Mukti Peer led De-addiction center Mundka North West Delhi, now in Rohini .Dr.Smith visited center many times. This center was established by Rajesh Vig who just completed his 20th year of recovery from drugs. Nada India congratulates him for leading a healthy and successful life. He has been an active member and peer leader of ARPAN( Association of Recovering Person Action Network) a project Nada India    ...Mukti started its operations more than 12 years ago. This was a dream project of Director Mr. Rajesh Vig when he was 1 year clean. He dreamt of building a place where he could treat addicts and finally help them to stand on their own feet. He dreamt of a place where even the staff members were recovering addicts. With such a dream in his eyes,when he was 8 year clean, with the help of some recovering members, he started this project in Mundka Village on 20th June 2000. Till now we have succe...