Drug Tapering, Withdrawal & Relapse Prevention

A comprehensive, compassionate recovery program developed by Dr. Shabnam Pourhassani, DACM, designed to support the
nervous system, restore brain balance, and prevent relapse during and after substance withdrawal.

Dr. Shabnam Pourhassani’s Drug Tapering, Withdrawal, and Relapse Prevention Program

For individuals recovering from long-term opioid and polysubstance use, detoxification is only the beginning. Withdrawal, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and relentless cravings often persist long after a substance is stopped, driving many people back into relapse despite strong motivation and repeated attempts at sobriety. Dr. Shabnam Pourhassani’s drug tapering, withdrawal, and relapse-prevention program was developed to address these deeper physiological and neurological challenges—supporting both the body and the brain during recovery.

One former patient, who struggled with heroin addiction for three years followed by cocaine and Suboxone use for another three, described addiction as a “soul-draining illness” that stripped away willpower, identity, and hope. After multiple failed attempts to quit—both independently and through inpatient rehabilitation—and the devastating loss of a close friend to addiction, the patient reached a turning point: a desire not just to stop using drugs, but to reclaim a sense of self and the ability to feel alive again.

A major barrier to recovery, as the patient explained, is the neurological impact of long-term opioid use. Chronic opioid exposure alters the brain’s survival and reward systems, increasing opioid receptor density and dulling the brain’s ability to respond to normal pleasure, calm, and emotional regulation. This is why cravings can feel overwhelming and why relapse often occurs even after detox. According to the patient, acupuncture was one of the few scientifically supported interventions capable of helping normalize this altered brain physiology.

Under Dr. Pourhassani’s care, the patient underwent daily acupuncture treatments during acute withdrawal, without the use of additional prescription medications. During a phase typically marked by severe pain, insomnia, agitation, and despair, the patient experienced something unexpected: meaningful relief. Sleep became possible. The physical agony of withdrawal was dramatically reduced. By the third day, despite weakness, the patient was able to attend class—something previously unimaginable during withdrawal attempts.

Rather than experiencing the typical “thrashing, desperation, and desire to escape the pain at any cost,” the patient described the process as manageable, hopeful, and grounding. For the first time, withdrawal did not feel like a punishment—it felt survivable.

Following the acute phase, Dr. Pourhassani continued care with individualized follow-up treatments two to three times per week, adjusting frequency based on symptoms and recovery stage. The patient experienced severe post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS), including:

• Chronic insomnia (sleeping only 3–4 hours per night)

• Persistent nausea and digestive dysfunction

• Anxiety and emotional instability

• Shallow breathing, fatigue, and cold intolerance

• Sweating, weakness, and daily “dope-sick” sensations upon waking

These symptoms, which often last for months and frequently lead to relapse, were consistently alleviated by acupuncture treatments. The patient described acupuncture as the only time they felt relief, hope, and emotional stability during this prolonged healing phase.

Over time, measurable improvements occurred. After three months, the patient was sleeping through the night and had significantly more energy. Most notably, cravings disappeared entirely—a result the patient had feared would never happen. There was no desire to return to opioid use, and smoking cessation occurred effortlessly as well. Emotional responsiveness returned: joy, excitement, and motivation resurfaced naturally, without substances.

By twelve months, treatment was discontinued. Nearly two years later, the patient reports zero cravings, improved physical health, normalized digestion, mental clarity, emotional balance, and a renewed ability to experience pleasure and meaning in everyday life. Alcohol no longer triggered addictive behavior, and sobriety became a preference rather than a struggle.

The patient credits Dr. Pourhassani’s success not only to her clinical skill, but to her deeply personalized and compassionate approach. Each treatment was tailored to the patient’s unique physical and psychological needs. Her calm presence, gentle needling technique, and attentive listening fostered trust during a time when vulnerability was at its peak.

“The acupuncture helped normalize the body so the mind could deal with life.”

This philosophy sits at the core of Dr. Pourhassani’s program. Addiction is not treated as a moral failure or solely a psychological issue, but as a state of imbalance that can be corrected. When the nervous system, brain chemistry, digestion, and sleep cycles are supported, individuals regain the capacity to heal, choose differently, and sustain recovery.

As the patient emphasizes:

“You are not your addiction. You are meant to feel happiness. If you can’t, it’s because something is out of balance—and that can be fixed, healed, and set free.”

Dr. Shabnam Pourhassani’s drug tapering, withdrawal, and relapse-prevention program offers a path forward for individuals who have tried everything—and are ready not just to quit substances, but to reclaim their lives.