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AcuDetox auricular acupuncture for women in Aurora, CO

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AcuDetox is a quiet, standardized ear-acupuncture practice used only alongside comprehensive substance-use treatment. Women considering care in Denver can talk through whether this optional complementary service feels appropriate without pressure.

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To talk it through, call Women’s Recovery at 833.754.0554 or visit 3801 E Florida Ave, Ste 650, Denver, CO 80210.

For residents of Aurora, CO. Women’s Recovery lists its physical location in Denver, CO.

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What is AcuDetox?

AcuDetox and auricular acupuncture: AcuDetox, also called the NADA ear protocol, is a standardized auricular acupuncture practice using fine needles at designated outer-ear points during a quiet group session. Women traveling from Aurora, CO may encounter it as a complementary part of comprehensive substance-use treatment in Denver, never as medical detox or stand-alone care.

Supporting guidance: Acudetox for Addiction Recovery in Denver | Women’s Recovery

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What is AcuDetox?

AcuDetox / auricular acupuncture for Women in Denver is a standardized, nonverbal form of ear acupuncture used as a complement to behavioral health and substance use treatment. It may accompany options such as group therapy for women and mindfulness for women, but it does not replace comprehensive care.

01

AcuDetox is also called the NADA ear protocol, the five-point protocol, or 5NP.

Some settings use the related name AcuWellness. These terms refer to a structured approach in which designated points on the outer ear are used. Because participation does not depend on conversation, you can sit quietly rather than explain personal experiences during the practice. That nonverbal structure may matter when you want a calm complementary activity within a broader plan addressing substance use and behavioral health needs.

02

The word “detox” in AcuDetox can be misleading.

This practice is not medical detoxification, and it cannot assess or manage withdrawal by itself. Women’s Recovery uses AcuDetox within comprehensive substance abuse treatment for women rather than as an independent intervention. Its appropriate role is therefore supportive: it may be included beside established treatment activities, while your overall care addresses the wider emotional, behavioral, and substance-related concerns that brought you to seek support.

What happens during an AcuDetox session?

During a standard AcuDetox session, fine needles are placed at designated points on the outer ear while participants sit quietly together for about 30 to 45 minutes. The group setting may feel different from conversational group therapy for women, while the quiet attention may share qualities with mindfulness for women.

01

The standard format is simple and consistent: ear-point placement followed by a period of quiet sitting.

You are not expected to tell your story or discuss your recovery in order to participate in the protocol. This can make the experience more accessible on days when speaking feels tiring or uncomfortable. Although several people may receive the protocol in one room, each participant can remain focused on her own experience rather than taking part in a facilitated verbal exchange.

02

AcuDetox should be understood in relation to the rest of care, not judged as a complete treatment session on its own.

Quiet participation does not replace assessment, counseling, behavioral health support, or medical attention when those are appropriate. Its structure can offer a defined pause within comprehensive treatment, while other parts of care address your goals, circumstances, relationships, and substance use concerns more directly. You retain the choice to discuss whether this complementary practice suits your preferences.

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What is the NADA ear protocol, and how does it relate to AcuDetox?

The NADA ear protocol is the standardized ear-acupuncture approach commonly called AcuDetox. It developed through community-based substance use work and later expanded into broader behavioral health settings. It can complement accepted treatment, including trauma-focused therapy for women or yoga for women, but it is not an independent treatment.

01

NADA refers to the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association.

Its standardized protocol generally uses three to five points on the ear and grew from community substance use work at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx during the 1970s. It spread through grassroots practice into substance use and behavioral health programs. That history helps explain why you may encounter several labels for a similar practice, including NADA, five-point protocol, 5NP, AcuDetox, and sometimes the related term AcuWellness.

02

Standardization describes the protocol’s structure, not a promise that everyone will experience the same benefit.

The approach has been used across addiction, mental health, and trauma-related settings, yet researchers emphasize that it should augment accepted care rather than function independently. For you, the useful distinction is practical: NADA identifies the ear-point protocol itself, while comprehensive treatment includes the wider therapeutic and psychosocial support needed to understand your concerns and pursue personally meaningful recovery goals.

What could a woman from Aurora, CO expect when considering outpatient treatment in Denver?

Care for women from Aurora at our Denver program may involve traveling to the Women’s Recovery location in Denver for appointments and returning home afterward. Location and travel information can help you understand that practical consideration, while a care conversation can focus on your needs, safety, and preferences.

  1. 01

    Outpatient treatment generally involves scheduled appointments without an overnight stay

  2. 02

    Standard outpatient care may include individual counseling, group sessions, coping-skills education, medication support, or care coordination

  3. 03

    Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) care involves more intensive, coordinated support, while partial hospitalization or inpatient care may be appropriate when greater structure or protection is needed

  4. 04

    The right level can help you receive care that reflects your clinical needs, safety, and ability to participate while living in Aurora, CO

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Common questions

Explore therapies for women in recovery and give yourself permission to ask for help for related guidance. Call admissions when you want to discuss your own situation.

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01 Is AcuDetox the same as medical detox?

No. AcuDetox is an ear-acupuncture protocol used as a complementary behavioral health practice. It does not evaluate withdrawal, provide medical stabilization, or replace comprehensive substance use treatment. If withdrawal may be a concern, appropriate medical care has a different and essential role from the quiet, supportive AcuDetox session.

02 Do I have to talk during AcuDetox?

The standard protocol is nonverbal. Participants generally sit quietly together after fine needles are placed at designated outer-ear points. You do not need to disclose personal experiences to take part in that structure. Other parts of comprehensive care may involve conversation, but the AcuDetox practice itself centers on quiet participation.

03 Are AcuDetox and the NADA protocol different?

They generally refer to the same standardized form of auricular acupuncture. You may also hear five-point protocol, 5NP, or the related term AcuWellness. NADA identifies the organization and standardized ear protocol, while AcuDetox is a commonly used name for that practice in substance use and behavioral health settings.

04 What travel connection is listed between Aurora, CO and Denver, CO?

Aurora, CO identifies the RTD A Line as operating between Denver Union Station and Denver International Airport, with two stops in Aurora, CO. That establishes a rail relationship toward Denver, CO, but not your nearest stop, a specific itinerary, current frequency, accessibility, or a connection to the Women’s Recovery address.

05 What purposes do Aurora’s naloxone leave-behind program and Mobile Response Team serve?

Aurora Fire Rescue’s naloxone leave-behind program is intended to provide naloxone after an overdose event and connect people with education, treatment, and recovery resources. The Aurora Mobile Response Team pairs a mental-health clinician with a paramedic or EMT for behavioral-health crises. For an emergency, call 911; non-emergency help is reached through dispatch.

Evidence behind this page

Supporting health information

Read how we select health information sources and apply the Women’s Recovery editorial policy. These references provide general education and context; they do not establish an individual diagnosis, service, or treatment recommendation.

01 Acudetox for Addiction Recovery in Denver | Women’s Recovery womensrecovery.com View source 02 The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol, auricular acupuncture to support patients with substance abuse and behavioral health disorders: current perspectives - PMC pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov View source 03 Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety | NCCIH nccih.nih.gov View source 04 RTD A Line between Aurora stops and Denver Union Station auroragov.org View source 05 Aurora Mobile Response Team auroragov.org View source 06 Aurora Fire Rescue naloxone leave-behind program auroragov.org View source 07 Treatment Types for Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol | SAMHSA samhsa.gov View source 08 Treatment | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) nida.nih.gov View source 09 Women and Mental Health - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) nimh.nih.gov View source 10 Managing Life with Co-Occurring Disorders | SAMHSA samhsa.gov View source 11 Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol: How to Ask For Help? | SAMHSA samhsa.gov View source 12 Get help: Mental health, drugs, or alcohol | Behavioral Health Administration bha.colorado.gov View source
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