increase access to and improve the quality of addiction treatment;

to educate physicians (including medical and osteopathic students), other health care providers and the public;

to support research and prevention;

to promote the appropriate role of the physician in the care of patients with addiction;

and to establish addiction medicine as a specialty recognized by professional organizations, governments, physicians, purchasers and consumers of health care services, and the general public.

ASAM’s Core Purpose:

To improve the care and treatment of people with the disease of addiction and advance the practice of Addiction Medicine.

ASAM’s Core Values:

Leadership: Evidenced in optimism about change, promoting the mission, acceptance of the achievable, and perseverance in pursuit of the desired future.

Integrity: Evidenced in dedication to the service and spirit of optimal medical care of the disease of addiction and its complications.

Respect: Evidenced in empathy for the human condition and uncompromised commitment to those affected by addictive illness.

Openness: Evidenced in inclusion of a diversity of medical specialists among our members and a diversity of treatments to assist our patients.

Advocacy: Evidenced in boldly speaking up on behalf of persons with the disease of addiction, including impaired health care professionals.

Connectedness: Evidenced in collegiality among members whenever we meet, and in synergistic collaborations with other organizations to achieve our goals.