The Experience of the NADA Protocol Within an Alternative Mental Health Resource: Perspectives of Members and Practitioners
Why this project?
The NADA auricular acupuncture protocol (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) is a group‑based therapeutic approach that has been used for nearly 50 years. Described by Stuyt et al. (2018), it provides effective support for various issues such as substance use, mental health challenges, trauma, and chronic stress.
Today, more than 3,000 programs around the world use the NADA protocol, including initiatives in the United States, Quebec, and elsewhere.
The protocol involves stimulating five points on the ear, administered by a trained acupuncturist or practitioner. This approach aims to rebalance the body’s energy and promote a state of calm and vitality. It complements psychosocial follow‑ups by offering a non‑verbal mode of intervention that helps reduce substance use, support withdrawal, diminish cravings, and strengthen harm‑reduction efforts. Its indications now extend beyond the field of addictions, with demonstrated effectiveness for post‑traumatic stress, depression, and sleep disorders.
Introduced in Quebec in 2021, the NADA protocol is becoming part of community‑based and alternative mental health practices. Simple, safe, and low‑cost, it creates accessible and welcoming group spaces, well suited for people for whom talk‑based approaches may not be sufficient. It aligns with a collective, solidarity‑based perspective consistent with the values of the alternative mental health movement.
Research questions
How has the NADA treatment been implemented and used at PRISE II?
How does the NADA intervention fit within an alternative and body‑based mental health practice?
What are the impacts of NADA on participating members, practitioners, and the organization?
How do members perceive and feel about their experiences with the NADA treatment?
What do practitioners think about their interactions with the NADA treatment?
Objectives
- Document the implementation of the NADA protocol within PRISE II.
- Explore the impact of the NADA practice on the well‑being and functioning of members, practitioners, and the organizational environment.
- Propose recommendations and avenues for reflection to improve the NADA intervention within existing alternative mental health services.
Research activities
Observation of social acupuncture groups in a free‑of‑charge NADA clinic
Individual interviews with participating members
Group discussion with practitioners
What this research aims to contribute
This project seeks to contribute to the development of knowledge related to the NADA intervention within alternative mental health services. It will provide a better understanding of the impact of this specific acupuncture treatment on the quality of life and well‑being of those who receive it.
The results will help advance knowledge on how this treatment is integrated within alternative mental health practices. They will also help clarify the perceived value and role of social/solidarity‑based acupuncture within the broader ecosystem of community mental health services.
