During ASAM’s 2018 Annual Conference, ASAM’s Board of Directors approved of three new policy statements: Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), E-Cigarettes, and the Role of Recovery in Addiction Care.

ASAM is pleased to offer a letter of support for S. 2589, the Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Act, introduced by Shelly Moore Capito (ME) and Senator Maggie Hassan (NH). This legislation will create competitive grants to operate Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers that provide a full range of treatment and recovery services, such as medication assisted treatment, recovery housing, job training and supported reintegration into the workforce, counseling, and community-based and peer recovery support services.

Today, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) applauded U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH, for encouraging more individuals, including family, friends, and those at risk for opioid overdose, to keep on hand naloxone, an FDA-approved medication that can reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression.

The Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose (CSOO) is pleased to welcome the American Psychological Association (APA) as the newest member of the coalition. APA is the largest national presence advocating for psychology in the United States, and has over 115,700 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members.

The Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose (CSOO) is pleased to announce the National Council for Behavioral Health (National Council) as a new member of the coalition. The National Council for Behavioral Health is the leading voice for health care organizations that deliver mental health, addiction treatment, and support services.

The statement includes recommendations to support correctional policy makers and correctional healthcare professionals in providing evidence-based care to those in their custody or under their supervision who have an opioid use disorder.

Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his Initiative to Stop Opioids Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand to address the opioid crisis in the United States. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has long called for a comprehensive federal plan to address our current crisis of opioid addiction and overdose, and is pleased the Administration is now devoting the time and attention necessary to turn the tide on the opioid epidemic.  Drug overdoses have surpassed traffic fatalities as the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. for some time, and concerted and meaningful action to reduce overdose deaths is long overdue.

The Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose (CSOO) welcomes HIV Alliance as a new member of the coalition. HIV Alliance was formed in 1994 to support individuals living with HIV/AIDS and prevent new HIV infections.