Manchester based acupuncturist, Elizabeth Ropp, received an award at a mid-March conference held by The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) in Austin, Texas.
“We awarded Elizabeth for her vision and advocacy in the state of New Hampshire,” says Sara Bursac, Executive Director of NADA. “She worked tirelessly to modernize the state’s acupuncture laws which allow non-acupuncturists to be licensed as Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists. New Hampshire is now better equipped to address the current opioid and mental health epidemics.”
“I’m humbled by the acknowledgment,” says Ropp “but we still have a lot of work to see the ear acupuncture law be put to use in a wide variety of settings around the state. We need peer counselors and other providers to get trained in the NADA ear acupuncture protocol. We can improve treatment outcomes, prevent relapse, and provide relief from toxic stress and anxiety that come from everyday life.”
Ear Acupuncture is recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a department of the US Health and Human Services. Earlier this year, Drug Czar, David Mara arranged for Ropp and NADA trainer, Laura Cooley to present to the Governor’s Treatment and Recovery Task Forces. The Recovery Task Force voted unanimously to support the expansion of ear acupuncture services to Peer Counselors and Peer Counselor Organizations. That recommendation will be given to the entire Governor’s Commission for Alcohol and other Drugs for consideration.
Other attendees who received awards include a magistrate judge from Tucson, Arizona, a renowned writer on Integrative Medicine, from Seattle, and acupuncturists from Puerto Rico who provide ongoing humanitarian relief efforts all over the island since Hurricane Maria.
