[Prospective study of Han's acupoint nerve stimulator for preventing relapse of detoxified heroin addicts].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in preventing the relapse of detoxified heroin users in a period of 12 months.

METHODS

A total of 164 rehabilitating heroin users in Shanghai area were recruited after compulsory detoxification treatment for a period ranging from 3 months to 3 years. The TEAS was executed by the device named Han's acupoint nerve stimulator (HANS). The patients were treated with HANS for at least 3 months. All the subjects were then followed up for one year and relapse was monitored by monthly heroin/morphine urinalysis.

RESULTS

Of 164 rehabilitating former heroin addicts, 53 remained drug-free at the end of 12 months observation period as judged by negative urinalysis while 35 become relapsed as documented by positive urine tests. The rest 76 dropped off due to various reasons and were all counted into the category of "relapsed". Thus, our data indicated 32.3% rehabilitating heroin users could stay sober for at least one year, which is significantly higher than the existing reports that less than 5% detoxified abusers would stay drug free for one year with no further intervention. No obvious correlation was found between the susceptibility of relapse and the duration of compulsory detoxification.

CONCLUSION

Compared to the existing literatures, our results indicate that HANS could produce a marked decrease of the relapse rate of rehabilitating heroin users after compulsory detoxification.