Published Research

NeuroElectric Therapy (NET) is a benign and rapid, non-pharmacological detoxification treatment for the chemically dependent, using very small amounts of electric current transcranially. The pocket-sized stimulator is used continuously for 5 to 10 days (2 to 3 days for nicotine) without supplementary drugs. Within this treatment period, it eliminates the acute symptoms and also ameliorates chronic withdrawal syndrome to a substantial degree.

NET Recovery is recruiting participants for a research study on opioid abstinence (stop using opioids and remain free of them) without the help of medication. For more information, please see the research study description or see the clinical trial posting on clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04916600).

Effects of Neuro-Electric Therapy (N.E.T.) in Drug Addiction: Interim Report

UNODC Bulletin on Narcotics, Issue 4 (1976)

Margaret A. Patterson

An interim report is presented of an in-depth study of the effects of neuro-electric therapy in the treatment of drug addiction. It prevents withdrawal symptoms and appears to remove the craving for the drug of addiction. The long-term results are significantly better in those who receive even a short period of in-patient therapy, than in those who receive out-patient therapy only.

Treatment of Drug, Alcohol, and Nicotine Addiction by NeuroElectric Therapy: Analysis of Results over 7 Years

Journal of Bioelectricity, Volume 3 Number 1-2 (1984)

Margaret A. Patterson
Jean Firth
Richard Gardiner

NeuroElectric Therapy (NET) is a 10-day treatment with a transistorized stimulator, which rapidly reduces both acute and chronic withdrawal symptomatology of all chemical substances, without drugs and with no negative side-effects. It is hypothesized that NET acts by specific electrical frequency stimulation of endorphin production that has been decreased due to chronic substance abuse. This has been demonstrated using NET in rat models; corticosterone levels and hepatic enzyme activity tare also significantly altered. Of 186 patients, 98.4% were successfully detoxified, with marked feeling of well-being and no craving (in 95%) or anxiety (in 75%). Detailed assessments of abstinence syndrome in NET are given. Of a 50% response to follow-up, 78.5% were addiction-free (80.3% of drug addicts) 1 to 8 years after NET, although average time in rehabilitation was only 16 days. Alcohol, marijuana and cigarette use were decreased in 64%. Diminished substance use was reported in 76% of recidivists.

NeuroElectric Therapy (NET) in Addiction Detoxification

Subtle Energies, Volume 3 Number 3 (1992)

Meg Patterson, MD, FRCSE
Noel Flood, RMN
Lorne Patterson, RMN

NeuroElectric Therapy (NET) is a benign and rapid, non-pharmacological detoxification treatment for the chemical dependent, either in-patient or out-patient, using very small amounts of electric current transcranially, with electrodes applied above the mastoid process. The pocket-size stimulator is used continuously for 7 to 10 days (3-4 days for nicotine), without supplementary drugs. Within this treatment period it eliminates the acute symptoms and also ameliorates the Chronic Withdrawal Syndrome, which otherwise could last 18 months or longer, to a very substantial degree. By the end of treatment, 95% of 102 consecutive patients claimed they were free of craving, 75% that they were free of anxiety. NET has a reported drop-out rate of 1.6% over a period of seven years. The basis of this therapeutic success has been the marriage of precision clinical techniques to highly specific combinations of electrical current parameters, both developed over 20 years of reported clinical and research work. It is suggested that the mechanism of action may be the rapid restoration to normal of abnormal neurotransmitter levels by specific electrical signals. Clinical treatments and double-blind studies are briefly described and reviewed, with new data on sleep effects.

A Randomized Double-Blind Study of NeuroElectric Therapy in Opiate and Cocaine Detoxification

Journal of Substance Abuse, Volume 4 (1992)

Peter Gariti, Marc Auriacombe, Ray Incmikoski, A. Thomas McLellan, Lorne Patterson, Vasant Dhopesh, John Mezochow, Meg Patterson, Charles O’Brien
The University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia VAMC Center for the Study of Addiction

Prior research on the use of transcranial neuroelectric stimulation suggested that the application of low-amperage, low-frequency alternating current via surface electrodes placed in the mastoid region could relieve the physiological signs and subjective symptoms of withdrawal and craving during opiate detoxification. These effects were reported without gradual tapering of the opiate or the addition of other medications. To test the efficacy of one particular form of neuroelectric therapy (NET), a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted comparing active NET and placebo NET in the treatment of withdrawal and stabilization of 18 opiate-dependent and 25 cocaine-dependent subjects. Scores on scales for measuring substance withdrawal and craving for each abused substance, as well as the multiple dimensions of mood, were compared for degree of difference across the IO days of treatment. There was an overall completion rate of 88%, with both cocaine and opiate groups reporting a comfortable detoxification and substantial improvement over the course of a 12-day hospitalization. There was no significant difference between the active or placebo groups, suggesting that placebo was as effective as active NET in reducing drug withdrawal or craving during cocaine and opiate detoxification. However, all placebo patients received 0.2 mA of current, which may have provided a degree of active current. Suggestions are offered for future research.