Educations

Editorial Comments - Drug Culture Sensitivity

Citizens who use drugs (CWUD) form at least one, and more probably multiple subcultures. It is easy to want to take issue with this statement, complaining that it demeans the notion of culture. But the concept is not unique, that CWUDs have things in common other than simply pathology...

Educations

Join the Elite Ranks of ASAM Distinguished Fellows

Every two years, ASAM offers members the opportunity to apply for Fellow status. The 2015 cycle will mark the shift of the Fellows award to the Distinguished Fellows award. In April 2015, the Board of Directors voted to take the current Fellow title and turn it into a membership category while the current Fellow award will change to Distinguished Fellow. Members who already hold the Fellow title will automatically become a Distinguished Fellow in 2016.

Educations

ONDCP Online Event Focuses on Youth in Recovery

On September 17, 2015 from 7:00-8:00PM ET, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) will host an online event at the White House in celebration of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) with a special focus on youth in recovery. You are encouraged to host a viewing party of your friends, family, and stakeholders. With your help, this event will be a significant occasion to celebrate and inspire millions of young persons in recovery, and raise awareness about critical resources and commitments needed to help other young people in their journeys.

Educations

Increased marijuana, heroin use contribute to highest reported illicit drug use in more than a decade

Findings from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), released today, reveal the percentage of Americans aged 12 or older who used an illicit drug in 2014 was higher than in every year between 2002 and 2013, driven primarily by increases in marijuana use, sustained rates of nonmedical pain reliever use, and increases in heroin use.

Educations

Clinton Campaign Releases 10-year, $10 billion Addiction Initiative

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has proposed a 10-year, $10 billion initiative to combat addiction in the US. Under the plan, the federal government would invest $7.5 billion in partnerships with the states.

Educations

CSAM's Synapse to Society: Addiction Medicine State of the Art 2015

Educations

Thirteen Senators Stand Up for Increased Access to Addiction Treatment

Thirteen US Senators wrote a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia M. Burwell requesting that she use her authority to lift the cap on the number of patients with an opioid use disorder a physician can treat at one time.

Educations

Brain Stimulation as a Potential Treatment for Addiction

Brain stimulation has been in use for decades as a potential treatment for psychiatric disorders. However, its use in addiction is relatively new.

Educations

Join October Rally and Advocate for Addiction Solutions

Be one of many coming to Washington, DC in a show of solidarity and collective force to help the 22 million Americans with addiction, support prevention for those not yet affected, stand up for the 23 million more in recovery, and urgently act to save the 350 lives lost each day

Educations

Member Profile: Edwin Salsitz, MD, FASAM

Dr. Salsitz has been involved in ASAM’s educational programs since 1998, when he took his first Review Course. As a result of his significant contributions to the field, he was named an ASAM Fellow in 2003 and received the ASAM Annual Award in 2014.

Educations

Open Letter: Why I Helped Form a New Mexico ASAM Chapter

My name is Dr. John R. Vigil, MD. I am the president of the newly chartered New Mexico Society of Addiction Medicine (NMSAM) and have been asked by ASAM to write why we started a state chapter in New Mexico.

Educations

The Importance of Donating: One Family’s Story

There are a myriad of reasons that can compel someone to donate to an organization. Ms. Joanne Krawczyk and Mr. Bill Keefe were not motivated to donate to the Ruth Fox Memorial Endowment because they are members of ASAM, or even because they are in the field, but they did so to honor their late son, Alex.

Educations

Generals Always Fight the Last War

The last war is prescription opioid abuse and addiction. The response has been to educate patients and doctors about appropriate prescribing and better management of pain through the use of non-medication alternatives. The new war is heroin.

Educations

Ask the PCSS Expert: Counseling Requirements in Addiction Treatment?

A physician wrote the PCSS mentor network seeking advice on what type of counseling (group/individual/AA, NA/therapist) are typically required as part of addiction treatment.

Educations

Three Experts Join Journal of Addiction Medicine Editorial Team

ASAM’s official journal recently welcomed the addition of three new statistical editors: Debbie Cheng, ScD, Charles Maynard, PhD, MSW, and Katie Witkiewitz, PhD. Together, the three editors will serve the important role of ensuring the high quality of research appearing in the society’s peer-reviewed journal.

Educations

Member Profile: Merrill Herman, MD

From 1995 until 2009, the New York Society of Addiction Medicine (NYSAM) grew and flourished under the hand of Dr. Merrill Herman.

Educations

ASAM Members Speak on Boxed Warnings to FDA Advisory Committee

On June 8 and 9, the FDA held a Risk Communication Advisory Committee (RCAC) Meeting to discuss the best approaches to communicating information about the fetal effects in product labeling for methadone and buprenorphine. ASAM members spoke about the need to preserve the access of pregnant women to addiction treatment.

Educations

ASAM Testifies at FDA Meeting on Naloxone Uptake and Use

ASAM member Dr. William Morrone recently spoke on ASAM's behalf about expanding access to the lifesaving medication naloxone.

Educations

ASAM Joins AMA Opioid Task Force

ASAM joined 26 other physician organizations, 17 specialty and 7 state medical societies as part of an AMA-convened task force to help identify the best practices to address this public health crisis nationwide.

Educations

Healthcare and Other Licensed Professionals' Drug Diversion for Self-Administration