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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Grubesic

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/12/07

HB

SHORT TITLE Acupuncture Detoxification Programs

SB 731

ANALYST Geisler

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$140.4

Recurring

General

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates: HB 845

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 731 would appropriate $140,421 to the Department of Health (DOH) from the

General Fund to finance six pilot detoxification programs, using acupuncture to treat substance

abuse especially in traditionally underserved populations such as women and children of color,

at-risk youth, low-income persons, victims of violence and those with concurrent mental health

problems. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall revert

to the General Fund.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

An appropriation for the purposes of SB 731 is not contained in the Executive Budget Request

for the Department of Health.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

From DOH

Acupuncture detox (technically called auricular detoxification) is an effective and inexpensive

Senate Bill 731 – Page

2

intervention, which has been proven to be successful in substance use treatment and harm

reduction settings nationwide. It is effective in treating drug and alcohol cravings, drug and

alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and increasing the overall physical and mental well-being of

individuals living with substance use disorders. Auricular detoxification has been studied

extensively by Yale University School of Medicine, and research results have been published in

such professional journals as The Lancet, American Journal on Addictions, and Journal of

Substance Abuse Treatment.

To date, there are fewer than 15 Certified Auricular Detoxification Specialists (CADS) in New

Mexico.

DUPLICATION

SB 731 is duplicated by HB 845.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

SB 731 refers to “acupuncture" to treat substance use disorders among traditionally underserved

populations. The appropriate characterization of the treatment should be changed to “auricular

detoxification treatments," or “acu-detox." Acu-detox treatments can be provided by New

Mexico Certified Auricular Detoxification Specialists (CADS) or by Licensed Acupuncturists

with training.

SB 731 as currently written refers to acupuncture, which may only be provided by Licensed

Acupuncturists or Doctors of Oriental Medicine. DOH believes as currently written SB 731

would not allow CADS to provide acu-detox and result in fewer individuals being served by the

proposed pilot programs. See suggested amendment below.

AMENDMENTS

On page 1, replace acupuncture with the term auricular detoxification treatments on lines 12 and

20.

GG/nt