Acupuncture

We are thrilled to announce that WHCP now offers auricular acupuncture services onsite for all participants! Robert Martinez, L.Ac, MSTOM, comes to WHCP with experience working in harm reduction, is a taijiquan instructor and a resident Washington Heights. Mr. Martinez will be providing NADA acupuncture services every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 10am-1pm in the WHCP conference room. The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) protocol is designed to provide ear-only acupuncture. At five designated ear points in each auricle (outer ear), clinicians trained through NADA apply fine gauge, sterilized, one-time use stainless steel needles just under the skin, where they remain for up to an hour while the participant (in most circumstances) relaxes quietly in a comfortable chair. Ordinarily, groups of participants sit together while undergoing the treatment. The procedure functions as an adjunct to a comprehensive treatment program offering the basic therapeutic elements of counseling, education, family involvement, mutual support group involvement, supportive health care of general nature. Participants in all types of treatment settings including inpatient, outpatient, incarcerated, shelters, harm reduction and street outreach can utilize this treatment. Among the benefits reported by participants and clinicians are improved program retention, a more optimistic and cooperative attitude toward the process of recovery, as well as reductions in cravings, anxiety, sleep disturbance and need for pharmaceuticals.