Educations

Chronic Medical Care for Chronic Medical Illnesses: Addiction Should Not Be an Exception

Today it is not unusual for patients with substance use disorders to be seen only in detoxification or during residential counseling. Furthermore, there is little concern about the appropriateness of this practice.

Educations

Rescheduling Hydrocodone Combination Products: Addressing the Abuse of America’s Favorite Opioid

On October 6, 2014, hydrocodone combination products (HCPs) became Schedule II controlled substances in the U.S. For more than three decades, HCPs were designated Schedule III drugs by the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that controls imposed by state and federal regulations were less stringent than controls for Schedule II drugs.

Educations

ASAM Leadership Profile: Dr. John Tanner

Dr. Tanner has been a member of ASAM since 1986 when it was called the American Medical Society on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies (AMSAODD) and was certified that same year. He has also been instrumental in helping to bring new associate member into ASAM.

Educations

Ask the PCSS-MAT Experts: Addressing Challenging Issues in Addiction Medicine: "Abstinence Based" Treatment Centers

As part of a strategic partnership funded by the Substance and Mental Health Services Administration, ASAM and other addiction specialist doctors operate a clinical advice listserve called Providers’ Clinical Support System for Medication Assisted Treatment

Educations

Dr. Dougherty's Mission to Reschedule Hydrocodone

While it took more than fifteen years and a lot of bureaucratic maneuvering, in the end the efforts of one ASAM member, Dr. Ronald J. Dougherty, secured the rescheduling of hydrocodone combination products.

Educations

What is Recovery?

There has not been a way of measuring the concept recovery. This changed with the November publication of the results of the NIH-funded “What Is Recovery?” study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Educations

A Critical Time to Donate in Support of Improving Addiction Care

2015 marks the Ruth Fox Memorial Endowment’s 25th Anniversary, and now more than ever it is important to ensure the longevity of the fund. The endowment is the foundation for ASAM to expand its voice as the expert resource for addiction medicine. Consider making a generous donation today!

Educations

ASAM Members Featured in Mediaplanet Campaign

ASAM fellows and members Drs. Kane, Krantz and Salsitz contributed to a comprehensive Mediaplanet feature about the dangerous and growing prescription opioid crisis.

Educations

ASAM Releases Report on Performance Measures for Addiction Specialist Physicians

ASAM announces the release of its report on “Performance Measures for the Addiction Specialist Physician” that establishes much needed benchmarks for addiction related care. Drafted by a diverse panel of researchers, academicians and performance measure experts, the document describes nine measures that address key areas of concern in health care delivery which, when implemented, will have the potential to improve patient and health care outcomes.

Educations

ASAM Year In Review: 2014

An in-depth report on 2014 ASAM accomplishments in improving access to and the quality of addiction care.

Educations

American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) Begins Formal Process to Bring Addiction Medicine into American Board of Medical Specialties as Subspecialty, Available to Diplomates of all ABMS Boards

In February, ABPM sent a required “Letter of Intent” to ABMS announcing the forthcoming submission of an application for the new subspecialty. This is the first step in a detailed ABMS review process that takes approximately 18 months. Although this process is the responsibility of ABPM as the sponsoring board, the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM) will encourage and support the vital undertaking.

Educations

Editor's Comments

Educations

Maine Governor LePage Proposes Eliminating Medicaid Funding for Opioid Treatment Programs

Governor LePage of Maine recently proposed eliminating Medicaid funding for opioid treatment programs in Maine. He plans to “transition” individuals recovering from opioid addiction from methadone to buprenorphine-containing medications.

Educations

ASAM Applauds Senate Confirmation of Michael P. Botticelli as ONDCP Director

The US Senate unanimously confirms Mr. Botticelli, recent acting director of the Office for National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and 2015 ASAM Public Policy Award recipient.

Educations

The Appalachian Addiction & Prescription Drug Abuse Conference

The annual Appalachian Addiction & Prescription Drug Abuse Conference was held in Charleston, West Virginia October 23-25, 2014. This was the third conference of its type held since the inception of the licensure board’s three-hour CME Best Practices Prescribing of Controlling Substances required education.

Educations

Anti-Vaxxers, Climate Change Deniers and Addiction Treatment

Even in face of illness and death the anti-vaxxers remain resistant to facts. But the zeitgeist is changing. We have the tools to carry the messages of treatment effectiveness.

Educations

More Choices for Your Patients: New NIAAA Publication Outlines Options for Treating Alcohol Problems

Clinicians now have a new resource to share with patients struggling with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has developed a guide to help individuals and families understand available treatment options.

Educations

ASAM Member Elected President of American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry

ASAM member Sheldon D. Glass, MEd, MD, has been elected President of ASAP (The American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry). ASAP continues to be the only national academic psychiatric organization dedicated solely to the mental health of adolescents.

Educations

Competency Based Medical Education: Treating Addiction in LGBTQ Patients

Dr. Hurley and several experts provide an overview of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex development and health, as relevant to addiction medicine clinicians and care providers.

Educations

Research Review: Alcohol Treatment Medications

Three medications – disulfiram, acamprosate and naltrexone – are currently approved for treating addiction with alcohol. However, while these medications are effective in subsets of patients, many do not respond to these interventions, and recent research has investigated the causes for such variability.