We are excited to announce an upcoming ear acupuncture training at Providence Community Acupuncture!The 5 Needle Protocol (or 5NP, also commonly called acudetox or the NADA protocol) is a safe, simple, and effective treatment designed to be used by non-acupuncturists for addiction and recovery support, trauma, stress, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain.
This training is one of the first offered by POCA (the People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture, of which PCA is a proud member), as we launch our Auricular AcuTechnician training program, building off of decades of work to expand access to this simple tool by the Black Panther Party, Young Lords, and National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA). More information about the POCA Auricular AcuTechnician or AAT training program available here: https://www.pocacoop.com/ears
About the training: The training will take place from 9am to 5pm on Saturday September 21st and Sunday September 22nd at Providence Community Acupuncture. The room where the training will take place is up a long flight of stairs. In order to receive a certificate of completion, trainees must attend both days of the in-person training, complete approximately 14 hours of self-study with the provided manual, and perform treatments on 40 ears, including by attending follow up supervised clinics on Saturday afternoons in October and November, exact dates TBD.
State Regulations: While anyone is welcome to get trained, in Rhode Island, LCDPs and licensed acupuncturists are currently the only people who can legally practice this protocol. We were unfortunately unsuccessful in advocating for legislation to expand who can use 5NP this session, but plan on working for it again next year and are hopeful that more people doing frontline work around addiction and trauma will be able to use this tool in RI soon. In MA, only licensed acupuncturists can currently legally practice this protocol, but there is pending legislation that would allow a variety of licensed healthcare workers including but not limited to nurses, drug/alcohol counselors, social workers, and mental health counselors to use it as well.
Fees: Sliding scale $225-$350 for non-POCA members (price includes 1 year POCA membership) or $200-$325 for current POCA members. A limited number of partial scholarships are available: if cost is a barrier to you participating, please reach out and we can discuss this option. 
Registration: If you are interested in registering, please fill out this online form and submit your payment. You can either mail a check to ProvidenceCommunity Acupuncture (write AAT training in memo line) or stop by in person to pay with a credit card ($5 surcharge). Our address is 1055 Westminster St. Providence, RI 02903. Note: we cannot take payments online or over the phone.
Trainers: Caroline Picker is a licensed Doctor of Acupuncture in Rhode Island, and has been happily punking at Providence Community Acupuncture since 2016. Before she became a licensed acupuncturist, she was trained to use the 5 Needle Protocol in 2006 at Lincoln Hospital, and used it in a wide variety of public health, harm reduction, mental health, and grassroots community settings. She is committed to expanding acupuncture access as a tool to build movements for social justice and collective liberation. Susan Murphy has a Masters in Education in Counseling, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed and Certified in Alcohol and Drug Counseling in MA as well (LADCI and CADCII), as well as an Auricular AcuTechnician. She has had extensive experience working in the addictions/correctional field. She is currently leading the legislative effort to pass an acudetox bill in MA.
Space is limited, so please submit your registration and payment ASAP to reserve your space. Feel free to forward this email to other people you know who may be interested in attending.
Cancellation Policy: This training requires pre-registration and payment in full by the participant.
For cancellations, following the refund schedule applies: Up to 30 days prior to AAT training (Aug 21) 100% refund; 29 to 14 days prior to AAT training (Aug 22-Sept 7)- 50 % refund; 13 days or less (after Sept 8 on)- no refund. Refunds will be issued within 30 days.
Let us know if you have any questions. You can reach Caroline and Susan at providencecommunityacupuncture@gmail.com