Educations

Med-Sci: Course and White Paper Show Renewed Emphasis on Clinical Drug Testing

A key to improved treatment of patients with drug addiction lies in knowing more about those patients, so ASAM has developed a white paper and offered a four-hour, two-part course, “Clinical Drug Testing in Medical Care” during its Med-Sci Conference.

Educations

ASAM Seeks Editor-in-Chief for Journal of Addiction Medicine

With journal Co-Editors, the Editor-in-Chief ensures content is clinically accurate, timely and targeted to the readership and editorial mission. Applications for this position must be received to by 5:00 PM Eastern on Monday, May 26.

Educations

Fundamentals Course Aimed at Primary Care Professionals

A new Med-Sci Pre-Conference course, “The ASAM Fundamentals of Addiction Medicine,” helped members and non-members learn more about addiction medicine and how to recognize, treat and/or refer patients.

Educations

Pain and Addiction Course Focuses on Use of Buprenorphine

One of the staples of the Med-Sci Conference, the Pain and Addiction Course, received a makeover this year. The daylong session moved from presenting an overview of several topics to zero in with in-depth presentations on current uses of buprenorphine in a variety of areas, and the roles of other pain and addiction treatment strategies, from marijuana to benzodiazepines.

Educations

Med-Sci: New Edition of The ASAM Principles of Addiction Medicine Available

Med-Sci attendees got an early preview of the fifth edition of <em>The ASAM Principles of Addiction Medicine</em>. Revised every five or so years, the newest edition is available for pre-order now.

Educations

Med-Sci: Harm Reduction Fits in With Patient-Centered Approach

The path to recovery is not a straight line. It takes some people longer to begin treatment, and relapse is common. A controversial tool some addiction medicine professionals use to help these patients is harm reduction, explained in a Friday workshop at ASAM's Med-Sci Conference.

Educations

Med-Sci: ASAM Steps Up Efforts to Reduce Incidence of NAS

The incidence of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) increased 600 percent from 2003 to 2009, which has fueled increased efforts to address the problem. ASAM has joined that effort with educational events at Med-Sci along with other health care groups outside of the conference.

Educations

Med-Sci: ASAM Awards Luncheon Spotlights Top Achievers

This year’s top achievements in addiction medicine were the focus of Saturday’s 2014 ASAM Medical-Scientific Awards Luncheon. ASAM honored nine professionals with awards during the luncheon—from the John P. McGovern Award to Best Paper.

Educations

Med-Sci: ASAM Examines Implications of New Marijuana Laws

A discussion of marijuana legalization and decriminalization drew a large crowd and stirred debate in a question-and-answer session at the end of Saturday’s ASAM Public Policy Plenary.

Educations

Addiction: Character Defect or Chronic Disease?

Recently, numerous media sources have implied that addicts ought to make better choices; addiction science cautions that is not always possible. Addiction as a reflection of moral character and choice takes us back to an earlier time. Science now shows that addiction, including alcoholism, is not a simple phenomenon. Addiction stems from multiple causes and is not a matter of choice.

Educations

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommends Primary Care Interventions

On March 10th, the Task Force published a final recommendation statement on primary care behavioral interventions to reduce illicit drug and nonmedical pharmaceutical use in children and adolescents. ASAM submitted comments which expressed concerns about unintended consequences that may result from the Task Force’s recommendations.

Educations

The ASAM Criteria Software National Demonstration Launch

ASAM is taking a step toward the future of addiction medicine with the launch of the National Demonstration Project for the ASAM Criteria Software, which will provide clinicians with a computer-guided, structured interview for assessing and caring for patients with addictive, substance-related and co-occurring conditions.

Educations

Standards of Care for the Addiction Specialist Physician Document Released

The Practice Improvement and Performance Measurement Action Group has published Standards of Care for the Addiction Specialist Physician.

Educations

ASAM Releases White Paper on Drug Testing

On December 12, 2013, ASAM released a white paper that reviews the science and current practice of drug testing and promotes it as a primary prevention, diagnostic, and monitoring tool in the management of addiction or drug misuse in medical practice.

Educations

Drug Testing: A White Paper of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)

Educations

Safe Methadone Induction and Stabilization

Educations

Confused by Confidentiality? A Primer on 42 CFR Part 2

Just about anyone who has ever received medical care has heard of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. But far fewer are familiar with the special privacy protections afforded to alcohol and drug abuse patient records by 42 Code of Federal Regulations (“CFR”) Part 2.

Educations

Pharmacological Therapies for Opioid Use Disorders

Educations

Definitions Related to the Use of Opioids for the Treatment of Pain: Consensus Statement

Educations

Driving Under the Influence of Illicit Drugs