Educations

Telehealth Harm Reduction to be Highlighted during ASAM’s State of the Art Course

Many creative ideas have been borne out of necessity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During ASAM’s State of the Art Course, which will take place October 17-18 in Baltimore, Maryland, Teresa A. Chueng, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Disease at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, will share one pandemic-era idea that has dramatically changed how people with substance use disorder (SUD) are now receiving care: telehealth harm reduction.

Educations

Finding Her Direction through ASAM

Working with patients during her family medicine residency in 2009 at the University of Michigan, Emily Brunner, MD, DFASAM, saw firsthand the struggles of patients with addiction and the devastating impact addiction can have on a family.

Educations

Dr. Fingerhood Excited to Bring Back ASAM’s State of the Art Course

ASAM’s State of the Art Course. The eight session course provides quick, focused updates on advanced-level research in addiction medicine. The fast-paced, interactive program will highlight important, new scientific breakthroughs in preventing, diagnosing, and treating addiction.

Educations

The Role of Pharmacists in Medications for Addiction Treatment

Pharmacists help ensure the safe and effective use of addiction medications. This policy statement identifies and addresses common challenges to accessing these medications at pharmacies.

Educations

Addressing Inequalities: The Vital Role of DEI in Addiction Medicine

Avik Chatterjee, MD, MPH, has seen firsthand the harms caused by structural and interpersonal racism, as well as the benefits of incorporating DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) principles into society and societal institutions.

Educations

The Assignment that Changed Everything

After finishing his psychiatry residency in 1996, Dr. Miller’s first assignment with the U.S. Air Force was at Andrews Air Force Base’s Tri Service Addiction Recovery Center in Washington DC, the worldwide tertiary referral resource for substance use and addiction-related conditions in the Department of Defense.

Educations

Teaching the New Standard of Care

With that in mind, ASAM created The ASAM Criteria Fourth Edition Online Foundations Course.

Educations

Medical Ethics in Addiction Medicine

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has adopted the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Principles and Code of Medical Ethics (“the Principles”) that guide physicians in the ethical practice of medicine. This statement elucidates the Principles to help guide ethical decision-making in the clinical practice of addiction medicine.

Educations

ASAM Member Advocates for Patient Access to Addiction Care

Dr. Burnett serves as medical director of both REACH Health Services and the Maryland Department of Health’s Center of Harm Reduction Services (CHRS). His approach to fighting addiction doesn’t end with addiction medicine. He’s also worked as an entrepreneur and a US drug policy expert to help bring about systemic change.

Educations

Two Decades Later, Dr. Kenneth Freedman is Still Finding Ways to Give Back

It didn’t take long for Kenneth I. Freedman, MD, MS, MBA, FACP, AGAF, DFASAM, to see the value that ASAM offered him and others entering the field of addiction medicine. Since becoming a member in 1998, Dr. Freedman has served ASAM in multiple capacities. He has also contributed regularly to the Society since 2001, driven by his goal to give back.

Educations

Inspiring Physicians to Become Addiction Medicine Specialists

In 2016, during his second year of family care residency, Dr. Michael Baca-Atlas, MD, FASAM, discovered his passion for addiction treatment. Currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in Family Medicine and Psychiatry at UNC School of Family Medicine, he initially did not have a strong interest or knowledge base in addiction medicine. However, witnessing the inadequate care for patients with substance use disorders firsthand prompted a shift in focus.

Educations

Ethical Use of Drug Testing in the Practice of Addiction Medicine

Educations

ASAM Physicians Provide Medical Community with Valuable Training on Buprenorphine

Training Available on Emerging Best Practices for Treating OUD: A new online course offers advanced knowledge and skills in the use of buprenorphine, focusing on the latest standards and information about initiation, management, and dosing strategies — and it’s free. The 90-minute workshop, “Advanced Buprenorphine Education: Best Practices and Emerging Evidence in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment,” complements the recently released ASAM Clinical Considerations: Buprenorphine Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder for Individuals Using High-Potency Synthetic Opioids. Melissa B. Weimer, DO, MCR, DFASAM, spearheaded both projects.

Educations

A Nurse Practitioner Finds Community through ASAM

Dr. Fingerhood will mark her 25th year as an adult primary care nurse practitioner in 2024. After years of attending ASAM’s Annual Conference, she decided to join ASAM three years ago. Now, she’s on a mission to inspire more nurse practitioners to join her.

Educations

Government Strategies to Foster Ethical Addiction Treatment

This policy statement urges policymakers to prioritize policies that foster quality addiction treatment and enact long-term government strategies to address persistent unethical practices.

Educations

Crafting the Fourth Edition of The ASAM Criteria

Over the past three years, a team of editors, writing groups, councils, and committees has worked diligently to create the newly published Fourth Edition of The ASAM Criteria. This edition, says co-editor Navdeep S. Kang, PsyD, HSP, takes the Criteria to a new level.

Educations

Behind the Scenes of a Clinical Practice Guideline

“It came out quite well,” said Daniel Ciccarone, MD, MPH, one of 14 members of the Clinical Guideline Committee who worked on the guideline for about two years. “The people who orchestrated this, both from ASAM and AAAP, did a great job getting us together to make decisions and keeping the train moving.”

Educations

Serving to Lead: Dr. Stephen Taylor has always had one goal – to serve those suffering from addiction.

Stephen M. Taylor, MD, MPH, DFAPA, DFASAM, is not just a seasoned medical professional; he is a compassionate servant leader dedicated to addressing the challenges of addiction. From his early childhood realization of a calling to treat addiction to his current role as the president-elect of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), Dr. Taylor has consistently centered his career around service.

Educations

Combating Stigma in the Aloha State

Although Hawaii is roughly 2,000 miles from the US mainland, its residents face the same addiction-related challenges as Americans in every other state. The Hawaii Society of Addiction Medicine (HSAM) has decided to tackle these challenges by addressing their common root problem.

Educations

Strengthening Good Samaritan Laws to Prevent Fatal Overdose

To encourage more individuals to call for emergency medical assistance during an overdose, this policy statement recommends enactment of stronger Good Samaritan laws.