Exploring the Current State of Evidence of Homeopathic Interventions for Substance Abuse: A Scoping Review and Evidence Mapping

Abstract

AbstractSubstance addiction poses a significant public health challenge globally, with diverse treatment approaches continually under exploration. Homeopathy, a complementary medical system, has gained attention for its potential role in managing substance addiction. However, the existing literature on homeopathic interventions in this context remains scattered and heterogeneous. The primary objective of this scoping review is to systematically assess and map the existing literature on homeopathic interventions for various types of substance addiction to understand the extent and nature of available evidence in the management of substance addiction disorders and highlight gaps that warrant further investigation. A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine-specific databases, using a predefined search strategy for studies published until December 2023, with a focus on various substance addictions and homeopathic interventions. Data extraction and synthesis involved categorizing key themes and summarizing findings to provide a systematic presentation of the literature. A total of 17 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, resulting in a final sample of nine studies meeting predefined criteria. These studies, conducted between 1994 and 2021, varied in design, such as single-arm studies and randomized controlled trials. Key themes extracted from the studies included the types of substances addressed and homeopathic interventions employed. The synthesis revealed notable patterns and trends, including positive outcomes such as reductions in cravings and improvements in withdrawal symptoms across various substance addictions. The observed findings suggest a significant paucity and heterogeneity in the in the current state of evidence, thus highlighting, the need for more rigorous and standardized research in this field. This scoping review provides a comprehensive overview of the current evidence on homoeopathic interventions for substance addiction.