National Recovery Month: How Acupuncture Can Support Addiction Recovery and Mental Wellness

​September is National Recovery Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the millions of people who are living in recovery from substance use disorders and mental health challenges. It is also an opportunity to reduce stigma, increase awareness, and remind people that recovery is possible—and that recovery can look different for everyone.

Recovery isn't simply about stopping a substance or getting through a treatment program. It is a process of rebuilding a life. It can involve learning healthier ways to manage stress, reconnecting with family and community, improving physical health, developing emotional resilience, and discovering new ways to feel comfortable in your own body.

At The Wellness Hub in Jacksonville, Florida, we believe complementary therapies can have an important place within that larger picture. Acupuncture is not a replacement for addiction treatment, counseling, medication when appropriate, or peer support. Instead, it can be one additional tool that may help support the physical and emotional aspects of recovery.

One particularly interesting approach is the NADA protocol, a standardized form of auricular acupuncture that was developed specifically for use in addiction recovery, behavioral health, trauma, and community settings.

What Is National Recovery Month?

National Recovery Month was established in 1989 and is observed every September. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Recovery Month promotes awareness of evidence-based treatment and recovery practices while celebrating the strength of people and communities involved in recovery.

Recovery Month is important because addiction and mental health challenges affect millions of people, yet stigma can prevent individuals from seeking help.

Recovery is not a straight line, and it doesn't necessarily look the same for everyone. For some people, recovery means maintaining long-term sobriety. For others, it may involve reducing harmful behaviors, rebuilding relationships, managing a mental health condition, or learning how to live a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Most importantly, recovery is about more than a diagnosis or a substance-use history. People in recovery are people first.

Why Does Recovery Involve the Whole Body?

Addiction is often discussed primarily in terms of behavior, but substance use can affect virtually every system in the body.

People in recovery may experience changes in sleep, appetite, energy, mood, stress response, pain perception, and nervous system function. Early recovery can be particularly challenging as the body adjusts to changes in substance use and the individual develops new coping strategies.

Even after the acute withdrawal period has passed, people may continue to experience stress, anxiety, insomnia, cravings, physical tension, or difficulty regulating their emotions.

This is one reason comprehensive recovery programs address much more than the substance itself.

Counseling, behavioral therapies, medical care, medications when indicated, peer support, exercise, nutrition, social connection, and healthy stress-management strategies can all play important roles.
Acupuncture can potentially fit into that larger picture.

How Can Acupuncture Support Recovery?

Acupuncture involves inserting very thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body or ears. It does not contain medication, and it doesn't replace evidence-based addiction treatment.

Instead, acupuncture may influence the nervous system and other physiological processes involved in pain, stress, relaxation, and emotional regulation.
For someone in recovery, that may be particularly valuable.

Imagine someone who has historically relied on alcohol, drugs, food, or another behavior to cope with stress. During recovery, they need to develop new ways of managing those uncomfortable feelings.

A treatment that provides an opportunity to sit quietly, breathe, relax, and reconnect with the body can become one small part of developing those new habits.
The goal isn't for acupuncture to "fix" addiction.
The goal is to provide another supportive tool.

What Is the NADA Protocol?

The NADA Protocol stands for the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association Protocol. It is a standardized form of auricular acupuncture that uses up to five small, sterile, single-use needles placed in specific locations on each ear.

The individual then sits quietly, often in a group setting, for approximately 30–45 minutes. According to the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association, the protocol is intended to function as an adjunct to comprehensive programs that may include counseling, education, medical care, and mutual-support groups.

The NADA protocol was developed in the 1970s at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx, initially in response to substance-use treatment needs. Over the years, its use expanded into behavioral health, trauma recovery, disaster response, community health, and other settings.

The traditional five-point protocol includes points commonly referred to as Shen Men, Sympathetic, Kidney, Liver, and Lung.

The treatment is intentionally simple. Patients sit quietly rather than receiving a long conversation or complicated procedure. That simplicity is part of what makes the NADA protocol practical in group and community settings.

Why the NADA Protocol Is Different

Traditional acupuncture treatments are typically individualized. An acupuncturist may select different points based on a person's symptoms, medical history, and treatment goals.

The NADA protocol is different because it uses a standardized set of auricular points.
It is also designed to be incorporated into a larger recovery environment.

A person might receive NADA acupuncture while also participating in counseling, group therapy, addiction treatment, peer-support meetings, medical care, or other recovery services.

This distinction is important.

NADA isn't intended to be a standalone treatment for addiction.

It is a complementary therapy that can be incorporated into a comprehensive recovery plan.

What Does the Research Say?

Research into acupuncture and addiction is interesting but mixed, and it is important to be honest about that.

Some studies suggest acupuncture may help with symptoms such as cravings, anxiety, or withdrawal-related discomfort, while other studies have not found acupuncture to be significantly better than comparison treatments for long-term substance-use outcomes.

For example, a systematic review and meta-analysis of 41 randomized trials involving more than 5,000 participants found no consistent benefit of acupuncture over comparison treatments for relapse, substance use, or treatment dropout. The researchers did find potential short-term benefits for withdrawal/craving and anxiety, although they noted limitations in the quality of that evidence.

More recent research continues to investigate different forms of acupuncture for substance-use disorders. A 2026 systematic review and network meta-analysis included 35 randomized controlled trials involving 2,812 participants and found that acupuncture-related interventions continue to be an active area of research.

Research specifically examining the NADA protocol has also produced mixed findings. A review of NADA research described promising early findings alongside negative or inconclusive studies and emphasized that NADA should not be viewed as an independent treatment.
That's why we believe acupuncture is best understood as one supportive piece of a much larger recovery plan.

Acupuncture and the Stress Response

One reason acupuncture may be appealing during recovery is its potential effect on the nervous system.

Stress and addiction are closely intertwined. Many people use substances or other behaviors in an attempt to escape anxiety, emotional distress, trauma, physical discomfort, or overwhelming stress.

Learning how to experience stress without immediately turning to an unhealthy coping mechanism is an important part of recovery.
Acupuncture may help some people feel calmer and more relaxed, which can provide an opportunity to practice other healthy coping strategies.

The quiet environment of an acupuncture session can also be valuable. For someone whose life has been chaotic, sitting peacefully for 30 or 45 minutes with no expectation to perform, produce, or accomplish anything can itself be meaningful.

Recovery Is Also About Mental Health

National Recovery Month isn't only about substance-use recovery. It also highlights recovery from mental health challenges.

Mental health and substance use are frequently interconnected. People may use substances to cope with anxiety, depression, trauma, insomnia, or other emotional difficulties, while substance use can also worsen mental health symptoms.

That is why recovery frequently requires addressing the underlying emotional and psychological needs—not simply eliminating the substance.

Acupuncture may be used as a complementary therapy for stress, relaxation, sleep, and overall well-being, but it should not replace appropriate mental health treatment. Counseling, psychotherapy, psychiatric care, medications when indicated, crisis services, and community support remain essential resources for many people.

Acupuncture Can Be Part of Your Support System

Recovery often involves building a new support system.
That might include a therapist who helps you understand your experiences, a physician who manages your physical health, a sponsor or peer-support group that understands what you're going through, family members who support your goals, and healthy activities that give your life meaning.

Acupuncture can potentially become another supportive element within that network.

For some people, it may be particularly helpful for managing physical tension, stress, sleep difficulties, or other symptoms that can make recovery more challenging.
The most important thing is to think of acupuncture as supportive care—not a substitute for recovery treatment.

Finding Acupuncture in Jacksonville

If you're researching acupuncture near me because you're interested in using acupuncture as part of your recovery journey, it's important to choose a licensed acupuncturist who understands that recovery requires a comprehensive approach.

At The Wellness Hub in Jacksonville, we take the time to understand your individual health history and goals. Acupuncture treatments can be customized to address your specific needs, and we can also discuss whether an approach such as the NADA protocol may be appropriate.

Our goal is never to promise a quick fix. Instead, we want to provide a safe, supportive environment where complementary therapies can be used alongside the other resources that are helping you build a healthier life.

Celebrating Recovery Means Celebrating People

National Recovery Month gives us an opportunity to celebrate progress rather than perfection.
Recovery can mean getting through another day sober. It can mean asking for help. It can mean attending therapy for the first time, reconnecting with your family, finding a new job, sleeping through the night, or learning to manage stress without returning to an old coping mechanism.

Sometimes recovery involves big milestones.

Sometimes it happens quietly.

Every step matters.

At The Wellness Hub, we're proud to recognize the strength, courage, and resilience of people in recovery. We also recognize the families, counselors, healthcare professionals, peer-support organizations, and communities that make recovery possible.

If you're already working with a recovery team, acupuncture may be a complementary therapy worth discussing with your healthcare providers. And if you're struggling with substance use or your mental health, please know that you don't have to figure everything out by yourself. Reaching out to a qualified healthcare professional or recovery resource is a powerful first step.

Supporting Recovery at The Wellness Hub

Recovery is a journey, not a single treatment.
Acupuncture, including approaches such as the NADA protocol, may provide a supportive space for relaxation, stress management, and overall well-being while you continue doing the deeper work of recovery through counseling, medical care, peer support, and healthy lifestyle changes.

At The Wellness Hub in Jacksonville, Florida, we're honored to support our community with compassionate, integrative care. If you'd like to learn whether acupuncture could complement your existing recovery plan, contact us to schedule an appointment and talk with our team about your individual needs.

This September, let's celebrate recovery—not just as the absence of addiction or mental illness, but as the ongoing process of building a healthier, more connected, and more meaningful life.


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