Pathways to Health · cravings and alleviating the emotional symptoms experienced during the withdrawal from alcohol, prescription and street drugs and nicotine. Ear acupuncture is

Pathways to Health

Annual Report

2019-2020

Pathways To Health Annual Report 1 Registered Charity No. 1082154

Year ending 31 March 2020

Acknowledgments

Pathways to Health has been running this service for 23 years and we would

like to thank all staff – paid and voluntary and all the individuals who have made

donations to the project in many ways giving generously of time, skills and

financial support.

We would also like to express our appreciation to our funders. Pathways to Health

receives no statutory funding and is entirely reliant on money we receive from a

number of Charitable Trusts who have continued to support us over many years –

notably the Brighton District Nursing Association Trust, Henry Smith Charity and

The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust. This year we received grants from Awards

for All, Sussex Community Foundation, The Postcode Community Trust and The

Ashworth Charitable Trust too. Additionally, our service contracts and partnership

working with Pavilions (Cranstoun), Oasis and Southdown Recovery Service

enabled us to run our service this year.

Thank you to Infinity Foods in Brighton and Baldwins the herbalist (South London)

for their kind donation of herbs.

The Board of Trustees

Front cover photograph by Azmi



Contents

Mission Statement 3

Summary of this Year’s Achievements 4

What is Acupuncture and How Does it Work? 5

What Service Users Say … 6

Client Experiences 7

The Volunteer Programme 8

Pathways to Health Services 9

Monitoring Outcomes 10

Health and Substance Use Outcomes 12

Funding Details 13

Project Staff 14

Financial Statements 15



Mission Statement Pathways to Health runs a community auricular (ear) acupuncture service that is open to all and specialises in treating people with and/or affected by substance dependency and mental health issues. Underpinning our work is our belief in building and creating positive, sustainable and supportive recovery communities. We offer affordable, group based treatments following the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Values and principles:

We support people at all stages of their recovery journey: from first engagement, during and after structured treatment programmes and then as part of an on-going ‘recovery community’ building new networks and staying well.

We believe that supporting people in making positive choices in their health care builds self-esteem, facilitates independence and promotes a feeling of emotional and physical well-being.

We are committed to providing open access and inclusive services that respond to individual need and offer a local health resource for all. Treatments are given on a drop-in, no appointment necessary basis and people can self-refer.

We are a community organisation working in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies to develop both ‘open access’ and ‘closed’ group services that are locally based and address local needs.

Through our Volunteer Programme we offer practical, supportive work experience and training opportunities for individuals to join the staff team, enabling them to ‘move on’ and make positive life changes.

We actively encourage service users to participate, take on roles and be involved at all levels throughout the organisation.

We recognise that our dedicated staff team are central to our successful service delivery and we are committed to on-going training, support and supervision to all members of staff, both paid and voluntary.

Our service is based in Brighton and Hove but we do receive and respond to enquiries and referrals from both East and West Sussex.



Summary of this Year’s Achievements A community health resource for all

Everyone is welcome to use our service, and during this, our 23rd year of delivering an ear acupuncture service in Brighton and Hove, 785 individuals received ear acupuncture treatment and over 3,527 treatments were given. We understand that addiction and mental health issues affect and impact on us all and many clients use the ear acupuncture service as an integral part of their recovery. This year we were also able to run a weekly Qi Gong class – used by people in recovery and their family members it enabled participants to learn gentle exercises and techniques for managing stress and anxiety to aid relaxation and promote a positive sense of well-being. 1. Success in Reducing Alcohol and Substance use Working in partnership with Pavilions, Oasis, Mind and Cornerstone Community Centre we ran 4 weekly ear acupuncture clinics that offered regular treatments to people with and /or in recovery from drug and alcohol issues. People use the clinics for many months / years to support them in recovery. Our monitoring this year shows:

28% reduced and 51% stopped use of alcohol

10% reduced and 14% stopped use of street drugs

18% reduced and 8% stopped use of prescription drugs 2. Success in Managing Anxiety and Stress Symptoms

60% of all clients attending all clinics report experiencing anxiety, stress and panic symptoms that they seek help to manage. In addition, many clients using the clinics to support their recovery list the reasons for continuing to come for regular treatment as support for their mental well-being, depression and sleep disturbance. Regular attendees report:

80% reduced stress, 78% anxiety symptoms, and 77% improved mood

48% improved sleeping patterns, and increased energy levels

3. Giving Up Smoking

In addition to other reasons for attending, 31% of clients are concerned about their tobacco use. Reducing the prevalence of smoking is identified as one of the key national priorities in improving the nation’s health, alongside both reducing alcohol intake and obesity levels. 19% of regular attendees report reducing their tobacco use and 18% stop smoking.

4. Positive Health and Well-being

Regular treatments have a physical and emotional health benefit that sustains motivation and helps to promote a positive sense of well-being. Over 75% of regular clients say that maintaining their emotional and mental well-being is one of the reasons they continue to use the clinics for many months and return to them at crisis points in their lives.

Sadly, on March 17th in line with the Governments guidelines responding to the Corona Virus pandemic, for the safety of everyone using and providing this service we had to temporarily close all clinics. We look forward to re-opening as soon as it is safe to do so.



What is Acupuncture and How Does it Work? Acupuncture is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and has been used as a treatment for over 5,000 years. It is based on the principle of energy or vital force (Qi/Chi) moving in a system of pathways throughout the body. This network of energy lines link up internal organ functioning with both physical and emotional aspects of our being. For example an imbalance in liver energy may manifest as irritability, angry feelings, pain in the abdomen or disrupted sleep. For people de-toxing from drugs, alcohol or nicotine all of these symptoms are commonly experienced. During an acupuncture treatment, fine needles are inserted into points along these energy lines to stimulate the body’s own ‘vital force’ to restore balance within it. Ear acupuncture uses only points that are located in the ear, but nevertheless relate directly to the whole body systems. Ear acupuncture has been used since the 1970’s in the field of substance misuse. It is particularly useful in the early stages of detoxification, reducing cravings and alleviating the emotional symptoms experienced during the withdrawal from alcohol, prescription and street drugs and nicotine. Ear acupuncture is now also widely used in the treatment of emotional and mental health issues, proving an effective tool for helping clients manage their anxiety, panic, depression and sleep disturbance.

What to Expect when you Visit an Ear Acupuncture Clinic. The Pathways to Health clinics are open to everyone so people with a range of health issues are treated in a room together. It is a group treatment where clients sit comfortably in a chair. Five, single use, sterile needles are inserted into the outside of the ear and then clients sit and relax for up to 45 minutes whilst the needles are in their ears. Clients are offered a cup of detox herbal tea with their treatment. The Benefits of Ear Acupuncture The benefits of treatment will vary for each individual. Our monitoring sheets (see the section Health and Substance Use Outcomes) show that clients most often report:

Greater feeling of ease and relaxation within themselves

Help in managing feelings of anxiety, agitation, restlessness and panic

A reduction in cravings for substances

A more positive mood and increase in energy

Help with sleep patterns

Relief from symptoms of stress

Help in reducing and/or stopping their substance use

Relief from pain symptoms



What Service Users Say …

“Acupuncture has been really beneficial in my recovery. I generally feel more serene, able to cope and take part more fully. I am now 4 months alcohol free.”

“Please continue with your great work – myself and many others see you as a lifeline. Thank you for all your hard work and support”

“Thank you Pathways for such a great service – it has changed my life. I have stopped drugs, I have ore motivations and can now can get out of the house and use public

transport.”

“I have felt a great benefit to my sleep since coming to Pathways clinics. It helps me with stress and reducing smoking. I am also getting relief from pain – so I am just very grateful. Thank you all.”

“It is the best way to

relax. I come every week and it has helped reduce my anxiety, stress and substance misuse.”

“This service is amazing – run by amazing people! It helps my quality of life – prevents alcohol and drug relapse as well as improving my mental

health."

“”I look forward to my acupuncture as it’s an important part of my treatment. The staff are lovely and caring and the environment relaxing. I have made huge progress since attending.”

“From extreme insomnia and anxiety, I am now sleeping normally and my anxiety is much

reduced.”



Client Experiences Everyone who comes to Pathways to Health has their own reasons for attending. Thank you to the following four clients who shared their experience of ear acupuncture, and one individual who talks about how the Qi Gong exercise group helped her.

“I have been using the ear acupuncture for about 14 months. I was having problems with drink and had been suffering with anxiety, stress and depression for some time. The ear acupuncture has helped me a lot. My life has changed in the past 14 months and now I am feeling good and my overall health is so much better.”

“I have been coming to Pathways clinics for at least a year now. I first heard about it through FAC (Families and Carers Service at Pavilions). When I first came life was very stressful and I was extremely anxious. I was on anti-depressants and couldn’t see much of a future for myself except more of the same and likely that things would get worse. I had been feeling bad for about 2 years. The ear acupuncture has helped me tremendously. I now sleep better and feel happier and healthier. I am less anxious and I feel positive about the future. It is great and encouraging to see others thriving also. I love this clinic space (Oasis) and

that it is a women only space and inclusive of trans-women. ” “I have been coming to Pathways since the earliest days (over 20 years!) – I first heard about it at the Threshold women’s Mental Health conference. At the time I had anxiety and depression (PTSD) and Fibromyalgia (undiagnosed at the time) – I couldn’t see much point in being alive and I also had anger outbursts. I now have much less mood swings and anger outbursts. I have a much more positive outlook on life and feel more connected with the world in general without feeling fear. I am also in less physical pain” “I have been coming for ear acupuncture for about 2 years. I first heard about it through Pavilions as I was having drink problems. I was willing to do anything to stop drinking. I was severely depressed and due up in court for offences committed whilst drunk. I had been suffering with depression for over 10 years. The ear acupuncture has helped me – I now feel happier in myself, not so anxious and I am climbing back to recovery. I am taking more care of myself, for example I exercise and have more energy. The ear acupuncture has really helped me feel less stressed and so less like having a drink – I don’t think about alcohol like I used to.” “When I first started Qi Gong, I was made to feel very welcome, and the instructions were very clear on how to do the movements and breathing, and the visualization was superb. Over the years I have tried many things to help with my stress and anxiety, I can truly say that Qigong is the one thing that has helped me, at the end of the class I feel extremely relaxed and well, my mind and body just feel lighter, it has made me definitely realize how much stress and tension my body carries around. The exercises relieve this, and it certainly a very welcome feeling to get rid of this. I highly recommend Qi Gong to anybody of any age. I have learnt different techniques to deal with stress that I can use on a day to day basis. I look forward to my classes very much. The only regret I have is that I did not discover Qi Gong years ago. I believe my life would have been made a lot easier.”



The Volunteer Programme Volunteers are an integral part of this project and make up the majority of the staff team. Every week volunteers give over 35 hours of their time, expertise and goodwill to provide this service for the community of Brighton and Hove. We are always very grateful to all of volunteers who contribute so much to this organisation. This year a total of twenty 28 volunteers have worked for us in the clinics and in the office and in addition five volunteer Trustees served on our Board of Trustees. We positively encourage service users to get involved in all aspects of the organisation. They make up half our staff team and hold Trustee, practitioner and clinic volunteer positions. Over three quarters of our volunteers are not in paid employment, and this year 5 were able to ‘move on’ into some paid work. Young people made up a third of our volunteer team (11) and they use it as a stepping stone into paid work, as work experience whilst at College or University and to help them decide on future career options.

Everyone has their own motivation and benefits in different ways from their involvement in Pathways. Some of the volunteers share their thoughts here:

“Volunteering for Pathways to Health has enabled me to work as part of a truly caring and conscientious team. Being a Pathways volunteer gives me a great sense of constancy, structure and routine that is very important to me. I feel I can rely upon all of the members of the team, I also learn a lot from the kind, patient and generous way that all volunteers and practitioners support our clients.” “Volunteering for Pathways to Health has helped me feel more confident about interacting with a variety of different people in the lively, often busy environment of the addiction recovery service. I have also gained quite a lot of knowledge about acupuncture from talking to our practitioners.” “I have been a Pathways volunteer for a number of years and I continue to gain a sense of pride that I am part of an organisation that makes ear acupuncture accessible to everyone in the community. As I watch clients who look forward to their weekly acupuncture treatment I can see that we offer a lifeline to people who might otherwise be very isolated and I’m proud to play a small part in that.”

“Having been a service user for approximately one year, I decided I wanted to give some of my time back to Pathways to Health. When I started volunteering the staff were both gentle and kind and explained my role clearly and concisely. They made sure I knew what to do and how to engage with service users. In the beginning of my recovery journey Pathways to health was a vital lifeline for me as my anxiety was very intense and my mental health very poor. Over the weeks and months however the ear acupuncture reduced my anxiety and cravings to a level where I could function again. I continue to have treatments from the Pathways to Health clinics as I need the results ear acupuncture provides me with. I love having the ability to work in the clinics with Debbie - It is amazing to be ‘part of’ such a valuable and vital service.”

“I have been coming to ear acupuncture at Oasis for 5 to 7 years. I have always been made so welcome the first time – and every time. I came because of my addiction and my physical and mental health. My life was not a life – I just existed. I have now been volunteering for over 18 months too. Things have changed a lot since coming to Pathways – I am no longer an addict – my volunteering gets me out and I go on public transport – and I meet such lovely warm people.”



Pathways to Health Services

Clinic Funders Ear Acupuncture Clinics

Mind – Mind in Brighton and Hove

The Ashworth Trust, Sussex Com Fdn & Postcode Community Trust.

113 individuals used this clinic – with 648 treatments given. Clients predominantly list mental or emotional health as the most frequent reason cited for attending – 70% anxiety & stress, 55% depression and poor sleep. The clinic also supports a significant number of people in recovery from substance use and those with dual diagnosis – 48% list drug and alcohol as their reason for attending.

Richmond House - Pavilions Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service

Cranstoun (Pavilions), BDNA & client contributions

The drop-in ear acupuncture and Re-think group is used by clients as:

Their first point of contact when they are still using

Part of structured treatment programmes

Support during their recovery.

Over 320 clients attended with 1,125 treatments given. 76% listing alcohol, 43% drugs and 60% anxiety, depression and mental health as their reasons for coming.

Cornerstone Community Centre, Hove

Henry Smith Charity, & client contributions

This clinic has continued to see year on year increases in numbers attending- 1,299 treatments were given and a total of 232 clients this year – with around 30 people attending each session. People list a range of both physical and mental health issues (60% stress, anxiety). The clinic treats many clients who use Pavilions at The Drive -with 55% of our clients listing alcohol as their reason for continuing to attend.

Preston Park Recovery Centre

Southdown

This service is a weekly group for registered users of Southdown Mental Health Recovery service. Pathways is able to cross refer many people coming to our other clinics so they can benefit from the extra support available here. Over 305 treatments were given this year; 80% listed anxiety & stress and 69% depression as reasons for attending.

Oasis – Pavilions Women’s Drug and Alcohol Service

Oasis

Clients report that they benefit from the small, closed group for women and 72 have come for treatments this year, with 298 treatments being given. Many women start at this clinic and then receive additional treatments by attending our other clinics too.

Oasis – East Sussex

East Sussex DAAT

Pathways to Health runs this service in partnership with Oasis and the group ran in Uckfield and then Lewes for women living in East Sussex. 11 women benefitted from this service with 45 treatments given.

Qi Gong

Awards for All (Big Lottery)

This weekly exercise class ran at The Drive for Pavilions clients in recovery and their family members. Participants learned breathing and relaxation techniques for managing stress and promoting positive well-being. During the year 50 individuals attended and benefited from this group.



Monitoring Outcomes At their first visit to a clinic clients are asked to fill in a confidential questionnaire, which includes questions about current physical and mental health issues and their use of substances. They are also asked to complete a separate, anonymous equal opportunities monitoring form. The initial questionnaire is followed at six-weekly intervals by follow-up questionnaires. These ask for information on health, and substance use in response to treatment. Individuals who have used the service over many months and at regular intervals in the past years give feedback either as a written or spoken testimonial. This offers a chance to reflect on and record changes and positive progress in recovery. Some of these are printed up and can be read by others in the clinics and can be seen in the section Client Experiences of this report Who Comes for Ear Acupuncture?

Gender – 43% male, 55% female and 2% other.

Age – 68% of clients are between 25 and 55, 23% Over 56 years and 9% are under 25 years old.

Household Income – 70% of our clients have an income of below £15,000 pa, with 40% under £6,000 pa

Disability – 25% consider themselves to have a disability

Ethnicity – 75% White British, 8% White Other, 3% White Irish, 5% Mixed Asian/ Black, 4% Black British and African/Caribbean, 2% Asian and 2% Chinese

LGBT – 14% of individuals are part of the LGBT community

Registered with Pavilions (for drug and/or alcohol issues) – 52%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Anxiety Stress Depression Mental &emotional

health

Physicalhealth

Alcoholuse

Tobaccouse

Drug use

Reasons for Attending Ear Acupuncture Clinics(information from 510 clients)



Supporting Statements from Health Professionals

Rick Cook - Substance Misuse Service User Involvement Co-ordinator

“Pathways to Health has been a vital part of this cities services for substance misuse users for over 20 years. Every year in my Annual Consultation of service users Pathways to Health is always mentioned as one of their priorities. Auricular Acupuncture is one of the ‘non-medication treatment interventions’ that is a huge ‘added value’ to our client group as a valuable recovery service and also as a harm reduction vital intervention/group.” “Year on year Commissioners face extreme pressure on funding and we are not going to rest until we have identified more funding for PTH as otherwise we could lose one of the most valuable and special services we have in the city...” Paula Hinks - Pavilions - Engagement & Recovery Worker

“I encourage all clients to attend acupuncture and so many of them have really benefitted from it. They say it helps with anxiety and also withdrawals. They swear by it and attend week after week. I also find it useful for clients who say ‘I don’t do groups’ as acupuncture is a gentle way of introducing them to a group setting and many have then found the courage to attend other activities at Richmond House.” Tony O’Mahony - Pavilions - Criminal Justice Engagement & Recovery Worker

“The acupuncture/meditation delivered by the lovely team from Pathways to Health is more than just useful. I work with clients who have anger issues, are emotional unstable by diagnosis or cringe at the thought of doing a group activity. Several clients with whom I work with or have worked with were once thought of as difficult to engage. The Pathways to Health service here at Pavilions is such a great way to engage clients especially those that are emotionally shut down. It can and has often been the stepping stone to building and developing engagement.” Martyn Orchard – Pavilions - Recovery and Engagement Worker

“I have worked in this field for many years and one consistent resource that has been available in the 14 years I've been working is Pathways to Health.” “The ability to heal oneself and calm oneself down in my opinion is vital and many things like yoga or tai chi and acupuncture should be promoted more and funded more.” Claire Nichols - Mind in Brighton and Hove - Community Wellbeing Coordinator

“Working in a health promotion role, it is my job to promote activities and services to individuals that are beneficial to public health, and Pathways to Health is a service I would always recommend. The service they provide is so valued by staff and service users alike for its benefits of supporting wellbeing and recovery. It is a much needed alternative route of support, not only for those who are looking after their wellbeing such as help with sleep, but offering hope to those who feel they have exhausted many options of managing their mental health.”



Health and Substance Use Outcomes

The following charts record information from 113 clients completing ‘follow up’ forms.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Reducedstress

Reducedanxiety

Reducedcravings

Improvedmood

Improvedsleep

Improvedenergy

Reported health outcomes

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Alcohol Tobacco Street drugs Prescription drugs

Substance use outcomes

Reduced

Stopped



Funding Details

Pathways to Health receives no statutory funding and each year faces the challenging task of fundraising its entire project costs for the year ahead. This year our total project costs were £58,787 which we raised from:

1. Grants from Charitable Trusts. 45.5% of our income came in the form of six grants from Charitable Trusts ranging from £1,100 to £7,890. These were - the Henry Smith Charity, Brighton District Nursing Association, Awards for All, Ernest Kleinwort, Postcode Community Trust and The Ashworth Charitable Trust.

2. Service Contracts. (Including Cranstoun/Pavilions) 30% of our income is received in the form of payments towards the cost of running our ear acupuncture groups at Preston Park (Southdown) Recovery Centre, Oasis Women’s Service and part-funding towards our clinic at Pavilions (Richmond House).

3. Client Contributions. This year client contributions totalled 21% of our annual

income. Whist we emphasise that everyone is welcome and no-one is turned away if they can’t pay, we similarly do inform people that every contribution, however small, does make a difference towards ensuring this service can remain accessible for all.

4. Donations. An additional £1,084 was received in individual donations and from Community Fundraising such as the ‘Give As You Live’ scheme.

5. We received Employers Contribution from the HMRC of £2,113.

Sources of funding

Cranstoun (Pavilions)

Client contributions

Service Contracts

Henry Smith

Awards for All

HMRC

BDNA

Ernest Kleinwort

Postcode Community Trust

Ashworth Trust

donations



Project Staff

Management Committee Members

Corrie Quinell Joan Marks Robert Parker Chris Smith Keith Iordache Dr Rebecca Jarvis GP (Advisor) John Tindall (Advisor) Jane Healey (Company Secretary)

Project Co-ordinator Jane Healey Finance Worker Christian Jane-Heidsiek Auricular Acupuncture Practitioners Tim Mashford Deborah Taylor Nina Oates Polly Skeet Petra Mak Office Volunteers Lynne Moore Yustina Rezk Technical Support & Annual Report Keith Iordache – Volunteer

Volunteer Clinic Assistants Robert Parker Helen Dodds Lynne Moore Paul Saunders Ludo Foster Joel Mills Annette Johnson Lola Parkinson Holly Cooper Anna Miller Tom Greenslade Neil Campbell Valeria Kuusisto Lucy Smith Kyra Goovaerts Aerin Kyaw Louise Davies Sheena Hewens Rosemary Moffat Krishan Macwana Sandie Angus Aja Mansaray Ilayda Uluchayli Sarah Howell Yasmine Walters

Financial Statements


The accounts have been audited and independently examined by Chariot House Ltd, 44 Grand Parade, Brighton BN2 9QA

A full set of accounts is available on request from

Pathways to Health

Pathways to Health

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 01 Apr 19 TO 31 Mar 20

01 Apr 18 01 Apr 19

31 Mar 19 31 Mar 20

--------- -------------------------------------

All Unrestrd Restrict Capital Total

Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds

Incoming Resources

42274 I1 Donated Income 28318 34754 63072.36

11050 I3 Trading Income: Charitable Obj 0.00

------- ------- ------- ------- ----------

53324 Total Incoming Resources 28318 34754 0 63072.36

Resources Expended

50526 E1 Expenditure on Charitable Objs 23359 34754 58112.69

191 E2 Fundraising and Publicity Exps 0.00

984 E3 Management and Administration 950 950.40

------- ------- ------- ------- ----------

51701 Total Resources Used 24309 34754 0 59063.09

------- ------- ------- ------- ----------

1624 NET RESOURCES BEFORE TRANSFERS 4009 0 0 4009.27

Transfers Between Funds

0 T1 Miscellaneous Transfers 0.00

------- ------- ------- ------- ----------

1624 NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 4009 0 0 4009.27

33486 Fund Balances Bt Fwd 01 Apr 19 35110 0 0 35110.17

------- ------- ------- ------- ----------

35110 FUND BALANCES CD FWD 31 Mar 20 39119 0 0 39119.44

======= ======= ======= ======= ==========

Pathways to Health

BALANCE SHEET AT 31 Mar 20

31 Mar 19 31 Mar 20

Assets and Liabilities

CURRENT ASSETS

A2 Debtors

194.00 Total Debtors 194.00

A4 Cash At Bank and In Hand

54056.17 Total Cash At Bank and In Hand 46026.74

---------- ----------

54250.17 46220.74

---------- ----------

CURRENT LIABILITIES

C1 Creditors Due Within One Year

19140.00 7101.30

---------- ----------

35110.17 NET CURRENT ASSETS (A - C) 39119.44

35110.17 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES (X + A - C) 39119.44

---------- ----------

35110.17 NET ASSETS 39119.44

========== ==========

Represented by Funds

F1 Unrestrd Funds

35110.17 Total Unrestrd Funds 39119.44

---------- ----------

35110.17 TOTAL FUNDS 39119.44

========== ==========

PATHWAYS TO HEALTH

Community Base

113 Queens Road

BRIGHTON

BN1 3XG

Tel 01273 234766

[email protected]

www.pathwaystohealth.org.uk

Documents

Pathways to Health · cravings and alleviating the emotional symptoms experienced during the withdrawal from alcohol, prescription and street drugs and nicotine. Ear acupuncture is