Acupuncture is growing rapidly due to increasing public awareness and acceptance and will increase by 5% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than average. The number of certified and licensed acupuncturists is expected to grow as additional states establish legal guidelines for acupuncturists to follow. The recent advances in research, changes in government policy, and interest from the mainstream medical community are strong indicators that the field will continue to expand. As insurance, HMOs (health maintenance organizations), and other third-party reimbursements increase, acupuncture is expected to grow even more rapidly.
The number of people who receive acupuncture treatments is growing annually. One of the areas of greatest growth is in the treatment of addictions. The United States has provided funds for research programs to investigate acupuncture's effect on cocaine addiction and alcoholism. Many hospitals and prisons now use acupuncture in their substance abuse programs. Besides the treatment of addictions, other areas of increase in acupuncture include the treatment of chronic pain, bronchial asthma, and premenstrual syndrome.
Despite these factors favoring job growth, much education and research still need to be done to integrate this system of natural healing into the conventional American healthcare system.