National Advocacy
Other National Policy Areas
ASAM supports a wide variety of measures to prevent and research substance-related problems.
Overview
ASAM is committed to increasing access to and improving the quality of evidence-based addiction prevention services. ASAM supports a wide variety of measures to prevent substance-related problems, understanding that carefully planned prevention measures can reduce the initiation of substance use. Additionally, ASAM advocates for a robust research agenda informed by patient experience and clinical needs. Specific research priorities include effective prevention programs and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for addiction and improved medical treatments for stimulant use disorder.
National Initiatives
Advancing Racial Justice and Health Equity
ASAM is committed to pursuing advocacy initiatives that advance racial justice and improve the health of all people suffering from addiction.
Cannabis Policy Reform
Learn more about ASAM’s efforts to advance cannabis decriminalization while protecting the health and safety of patients.
In this 2020 public policy statement on cannabis, ASAM reviews the medical and social science literature about cannabis use and recommends important, evidence-based policy changes that mitigate potential harm related to cannabis use in the United States. As the medical community continues to document evidence of the harms and potential benefits of cannabis use, ASAM calls for the decriminalization of cannabis use, alongside appropriate regulations and oversight that protect public health.
2022 Successes
On December 2, 2022, President Biden signed H.R.8454 - the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act into law. This law will make it easier for researchers to study cannabis, which will potentially open the door to additional cannabis derived medicines and therapies.
Telehealth
The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a surge in the use of telehealth to treat patients with substance use disorder (SUD). Telehealth has proved to be a valuable resource for patients and clinicians who have been challenged by the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, regulatory flexibilities have allowed more patients struggling with SUD, including opioid use disorder, and their clinicians to use telehealth as a means for addiction medication initiation and receipt of related care.
HHS Fact Sheet: Telehealth Flexibilities and Resources and the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
ASAM’s public policy recommendations for optimizing telehealth access to addiction care can be found here.
ASAM’s February 2022 policy briefs represent a synopsis of important statutes and regulations governing telehealth at the federal and state level as of such time, as well as a synopsis of ASAM and State Chapter advocacy actions to expand coverage and access to addiction treatment via telehealth.
Tobacco Cessation
ASAM envisions a future where everyone has access to tobacco cessation treatments. Learn more about our efforts to prevent tobacco use and expand access to tobacco cessation treatments.
ASAM endorsed the Quit Because of COVID-19 Act which would ensure that all Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees have access to the full array of evidence-based tobacco cessation treatments. Specifically, the bill would extend comprehensive tobacco cessation to all Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries, eliminate cost sharing and prior authorization requirements, and would provide enhanced federal funding to cover the full cost of state outreach campaigns to education providers and Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries about the benefit. Read more.