The Journal of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회지)

The Society of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Review of US Health Policy on Acupuncture Application for Opioid Abuse Crisis

침술의 마약성 진통제 남용 해결을 위한 미국 의료정책 고찰

  • Kim, Juchul (Research Institute of Korean Medicine Policy, The Association of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Hyun, Eunhye (Division of Humanities and Social Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Kim, Dongsu (KM Policy Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine)
  • 김주철 (대한한의사협회 한의학정책연구원) ;
  • 현은혜 (부산대학교 한의학전문대학원) ;
  • 김동수 (한국한의학연구원 한의학정책연구센터)
  • Received : 2020.05.06
  • Accepted : 2020.05.27
  • Published : 2020.06.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Background: Opioids are a class of drugs found in the opium poppy, and used primarily as a pain reliever. About 130 people die every day from opioid abuse in the U.S., and the number of deaths was 6 times higher than it was 20 years ago. Objectives: To derive the implications on Korean Medicine(KM), this study aimed to investigate the current state of opioids abuse in the U.S. and analyze cases to solve opioids abuse using acupuncture. Methods: Literature on opioids abuse in the U.S. were searched through the websites of government, agency, and research institute. Results: There were several cases using acupuncture on opioids abuse. First, the Act on the use of acupuncture was enacted. Second, the clinical practice guidelines by the American College of Physicians recommended using acupuncture. Third, a large clinical study was conducted on whether acupuncture could replace opioids. Fourth, Vermont and Washington State conducted pilot projects on insurance coverage of acupuncture. Conclusions: As opioids issues are also valid in Korea, KM can serve a critical role in pain management to pursue expanded insurance coverage. In order to do so, building the discourses of KM in opioid issues is critical by defining its medical advantage, conducting large-scale clinical researches and implementing pilot projects to tackle social problems.

Keywords

References

  1. An Express Scripts Report. A nation in pain focusing on U.S. opioid trends for treatment of short-term and longer-term pain. 2014 Dec; 1-32.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding the Epidemic. 2020 [cited 2020 Mar 4]; Available from: URL: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html.
  3. Rui P, Santo L, Ashman JJ. National Health Statistics Report. 2020;(135):1-12.
  4. Florence CS, Zhou C, Luo F, Xu L. The Economic Burden of Prescription Opioid Overdose, Abuse, and Dependence in the United States 2013. Med Care, 2016;54(10):901-906. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000000625
  5. Johns Hopkins Medicine. What Are Opioids?. [cited 2020 Feb 29]; Available from: URL: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/opioids/what-are-opioids.html.
  6. National Institute on Drug Abuse of United States. FAQs About Opioids. 2018 [cited 2020 Jan 14]; Available from: URL: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/opioid-facts-teens/faqs-about-opioids.
  7. Smith DE. Medicalizing the Opioid Epidemic in the U.S. in the Era of Health Care Reform. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 2017;49(2):95-101. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2017.1295334
  8. Hedegaard H, Warner M, Minino AM. Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 1999-2017. NCHS Data Brief. 2018 Nov;(329):1-8.
  9. The White House. President Donald J. Trump is Taking Action on Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. 2017 Oct 26. [cited 2020 Mar 15]; Available from: URL: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-taking-action-drug-addiction-opioid-crisis/.
  10. Choe HJ. The Opioid dilemma. Journal of Korean Society of Health-System Pharmacists. 2014;31(4):873-881.
  11. Hwang WH. Opioid dependence rate 21% in Korea. Healtip News. 2018 Dec 4 [cited 2020 Feb 19]; Available from: URL: http://www.healtip.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=741.
  12. Overdose Death Rates. [cited 2020 Mar 4]; Available from: URL: https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates.
  13. National Safety Council Newsroom. NSC Poll: 99% of Doctors Prescribe Highly-addictive Opioids Longer than CDC Recommends. 2016 Mar 24 [cited 2020 Mar 15]; Available from: URL: https://www.nsc.org/in-the-newsroom/nscpoll-99-of-doctors-prescribe-highly-addictive-opioids-longer-than-cdc-recommends.
  14. Carlson RG, Nahhas RW, Martins SS, Daniulaityte R. Predictors of transition to heroin use among initially non-opioid dependent illicit pharmaceutical opioid users: A natural history study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2016;160:127-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.12.026
  15. Vowles KE, McEntee ML, Julnes PS, Frohe T, Ney JP, Goes DN. Rates of opioid misuse, abuse, and addiction in chronic pain: a systematic review and data synthesis. Pain. 2015;156(4):569-576. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.j.pain.0000460357.01998.f1
  16. Morone NE, Weiner DK. Pain as the 5th vital sign: exposing the vital need for pain education. Clin Ther. 2013;35(11):1728-1732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2013.10.001
  17. Van ZA. The Promotion and Marketing of OxyContin: Commercial Triumph, Public Health Tragedy. American Journal of Public Health. 2009;99(2):221-227. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.131714
  18. Everett Washington. City of Everett's lawsuit against Purdue Pharma. [cited 2020 Jan 14]; Available from: URL: https://everettwa.gov/1681/Purdue-Lawsuit.
  19. Ohio Attorney General. Attorney General DeWine Files Lawsuit Against Opioid Distributors for Practices Fueling Opioid Diversion. 2018 Feb 26 [cited 2020 Mar 14]; Available from: URL: https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Media/News-Releases/February-2018/Attorney-General-DeWine-Files-Lawsuit-Against-Opio.
  20. Office of the Attorney General, Washinton State. Ferguson: Distributors ignored red flags while pouring staggering amounts of opioids into Washington. 2019 Mar 12 [cited 2020 Jan 14]; Available from: URL: https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ferguson-distributors-ignored-red-flags-while-pouring-staggering-amounts-opioids.
  21. Congress of United States. H.R.6110-Dr. Todd Graham Pain Management, Treatment, and Recovery Act of 2018. [cited 2020 Jan 14]; Available from: URL: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6110/text?format=txt.
  22. U.S. Congress Woman, JUDI CHU. Rep. Chu Opioid Alternative Bill Passed Unanimously. 2018 Jun 19. [cited 2019 Dec 4]; Available from: URL: https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-chu-opioid-alternative-bill-passed-unanimously.
  23. California Legislative Information. AB-888 Opioid prescriptions: information: nonpharmacological treatments for pain. [cited 2019 Dec 4]; Available from: URL: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB888.
  24. Association of Chiropractic of California State. California Chiropractic Association Sponsors AB 888 Opioid Legislation. 2019 Mar 28 [cited 2019 Dec 4]; Available from: URL: https://planetc1.com/california-chiropractic-association-sponsors-ab-888-opioid-legislation.
  25. Centers for Medicaid & Medicaid Services. Medicaid Strategies for Non-Opioid Pharmacologic and Non-Pharmacologic Chronic Pain Management. 2019 Feb 22 [cited 2020 Mar 15]; Available from: URL: https://www.medicaid.gov/sites/default/files/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib022219.pdf.
  26. Skelly AC, Chou R, Dettori JR, Turner JA, Friedly JL, Rundell SD, et al. Noninvasive Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review(Comparative Effectiveness Review). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2018 Jun 11 [cited 2020 Mar 15]; Available from: URL: https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/nonpharma-treatment-pain/research-2018
  27. Kim JC, Kim DS, Lee EK. A Study on Current Status of Acupuncture and Chiropractic Health Insurance in the United States. Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine. 2019;23(1):1-13.
  28. Vermont Department of Health. Insurance in the United States. 2017.
  29. Davis RT, Badger G, Valentine K, Cavert A, Coeytaux RR. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain in the Vermont Medicaid Population: A Prospective, Pragmatic Intervention Trial. Glob Adv Health Med. 2018 Apr 10;7.
  30. Weeks J. Vermont Medicaid Acupuncture Pilot produces positive results and possible action. Integrative Practitioner. 2017 Nov 21 [cited 2020 Mar 15]; Available from: URL: https://www.integrativepractitioner.com/practicemanagement/news/vermont-medicaid-acupuncture-pilot-produces-positive-results-possible-action.
  31. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Acupuncture Pilot Project Frequently Asked Questions. [cited 2020 Mar 15]; Available from: URL: https://www.abwmassage.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/AcupuncturePilotFAQs.pdf.
  32. Childers A. Acupuncture Moving Mainstream in Workers' Comp.-Washington State pilots the use of alternative treatment for lower back pain. Risk & Insurance. 2017 Sep 12 [cited 2020 Mar 15]; Available from: URL: https://riskandinsurance.com/acupuncture-moving-mainstream-workers-comp/.
  33. Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, Forciea MA. Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine 2017 April 4;1667(7):514-530.
  34. National Intitutes of Health. The Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM Initiative -Supporting science-based solutions to the opioid crisis. 2017 Nov 21 [cited 2019 Dec 4]; Available from: URL: https://www.nih.gov/research-training/medical-research-initiatives/heal-initiative.
  35. National Centers for Complementary and Integrative Health. "HEAL Initiative Offers New Funding Options for Clinical Trial Research on Pain. 2018 Dec 21 [cited 2019 Dec 4]; Available from: URL: https://nccih.nih.gov/research/blog/heal-funding-options-for-clinical-trial-research-on-pain.
  36. National Intitutes of Health. HEAL Initiative: Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for Management of Chronic Low Back Painin Older Adults (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required). [cited 2019 Dec 4]; Available from: URL: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/rfa-at-19-005.html.
  37. Castaneda AM, Lee CS, Kim YC, Lee D, Moon JY. Addression opioid-related chemical coping in long-term opioid therapy for chronic noncancer pain: a multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study. Journal of Clinical Medicine. J Clin Med. 2018;7(10):354. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm7100354
  38. Yoon DU, Kang UG. Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 2019;58(3):182-191. https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2019.58.3.182
  39. Cho YS, Lee JY, Kim HS, Kwon K. Trends in the Consumption of Opioid Analgesics in a Tertiary Care Hospital from 2000 to 2012. Yakhak Hoeji. 2014;58(4):268-276.
  40. Lee BM, S CO. The use of highly addictive opioids is growing rapidly.-Clinic 20 times more than general hospital. Maeil Business News Korea. 2018 Nov 19 [cited 2020. Feb 19]; Available from: URL: https://www.mk.co.kr/news/it/view/2018/11/725038.
  41. Bae SB, Lee SC. Medical Treatment of Cancer Pain: Drug Therapy according to Guidelines Will Improve the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients. J of The Korean Association of Internal Medicine. 2018;93(3):260-265.
  42. Volkow ND, Collins FS. The role of science in addressing the opioid crisis. N Eng J Med. 2017;377(4):391-394. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsr1706626
  43. Fan AY, Miller DW, Bolash B, Bauer M, McDonald J, Faggert S, et al. Acupuncture's role in solving the opioid epidemic: evidence, cost-effectiveness, and care availability for acupuncture as a primary, non-pharmacologic method for pain relief and management-white paper 2017. J Integr Med. 2017;15(6):411-425. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2095-4964(17)60378-9
  44. Gemeinsamen Bundesausschusses. Akupunktur: Zusammenfassender Bericht des Unterausschusses "Arztliche Behandlung" des Gemeinsamen Bundesausschusses uber die Bewertung gemass $\S$135 Abs.1 SGB V der Korperakupunktur mit Nadeln ohne elektrische Stimulation. 2007 Sep 27 [cited 2020. Feb 19]; Available from: URL: https://www.g-ba.de/downloads/40-268-487/2007-09-27-Abschluss-Akupunktur.pdf.
  45. Kong JT. Exploring the multiple roles of acupuncture in alleviating the opioid crisis. J Altern Complement Med. 2018;24(4):304-306. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2018.0083
  46. Kim D, Park I, LimB. A Study on Health Insurance Coverage for Acupuncture Therapy in the Germany. Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine. 2019;23(3):109-119.
  47. Kim D, Lim B, Park I, Lee YU. A case study on benefit coverage of complementary medicine in public health insurance by the referendum in Switzerland. Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine. 2017;21(3):1-10.
  48. Kim D, Kwon SH, Chung SH, Ahn BT, Lim B. The Health Insurance system and the Quality Improvement Policies for Chinese Medicine in Taiwan. Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine. 2016;20(2):27-38.