Educations

Physician Sees Addiction as Disease that Affects the Individual and the Family

John Symeonides, MD, CMD, FAAFP, FASAM, became a family physician in 1996 because he wanted to care for the whole patient as well as the whole family.

Educations

Physician Associate Shares How ASAM Boosted Her Career

After spending nearly twenty years in public health, Debra R. Newman, PA-C, MSPAS, MPH, felt it was time for a career change.

Educations

Self-Care Crucial for Physicians During Ongoing Pandemic - Physician Burnout on the Rise

Prior to 2020, physician burnout, anxiety, and depression were on the rise in the medical profession. Of course, since the coronavirus pandemic started, physicians, nurses, and others in the medical community have endured a new level of physical and mental exhaustion and stress.

Educations

Tobacco Use Disorder Should be a Priority in Addiction Treatment

The COVID-19 and opioid epidemics have left undeniable impacts on the lives of Americans in recent years. Yet there is another significant public health threat that has simmered in the background of American society for at least 60 years and is responsible for over 480,000 deaths each year: tobacco use.

Educations

Recognition and Role of Addiction Specialist Physicians in Health Care in the United States

Addiction specialist physicians (ASPs) include physicians from multiple different primary specialties. This public policy statement describes the important role and skills of ASPs in U.S. health care, as well as policy recommendations that can further enhance their leadership in patient care.

Educations

Thoughts on the Passing of My Friend, Dr. Richard Saitz

Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, Editor-in-chief of The Journal of Addiction Medicine, and an Editor of Principles of Addiction Medicine and of the Journal of the American Medical Association, died from pancreatic cancer on 15 January.

Educations

CMS Finalizes Rule to Provide 1,000 Additional Residency Slots Beginning in 2023; Highlights Addiction Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine

In December 2020, the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2021, which made fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations for the federal government and added 1,000 additional Medicare-supported residency slots starting in FY 2023.

Educations

Medical Toxicologist Dr. Timothy Wiegand Receives ASAM’s Annual Award

Dr. Wiegand serves as Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and the Director of Addiction Toxicology and the Toxicology/Addiction Consult Service at Strong Memorial Hospital and the University of Rochester Medical Center. He started treating addiction 20 years ago and has since worked to bridge the fields of addiction medicine and medical toxicology. His efforts to do so contributed to him winning ASAM’s Annual Award, which he said he is honored to receive.

Educations

Wrapping up 2021

What a year 2021 turned out to be! Membership in ASAM returned to pre-pandemic levels, as we finished out the year with well over 6700 members!

Educations

The Role of Facts and Trust in Cannabis Education

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy frequently speaks of the dual roles in COVID-19 education of providing accurate, fact-based information and earning the public’s trust. The same two elements - facts and trust - are critical for effective cannabis education.

Educations

Morphine Milligram Equivalents for Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)

This difference in doses of methadone and buprenorphine used to treat addiction and opioids used to treat pain may cause confusion among policymakers and payers attempting to set policies to prevent opioid overdose by limiting MME, as well as among state medical board officials attempting to enforce clinical guidelines and stem the over-prescription of opioid analgesics.

Educations

Regulation of the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder with Methadone

Educations

ASAM Updates Definitions, Terminology, and Language

The ASAM Quality Improvement Council (QIC) is pleased to share the initial results of work conducted by the Terminology and Definitions (TAD) Subcommittee.

Educations

Fighting Disparity through Addiction Medicine

In entering medicine, Dr. Ageze knew he wanted to specifically help the poor and marginalized. The disparities he witnessed among the poorer patients who traveled from far away to the nation’s capital, where he had grown up, disturbed him.

Educations

ASAM CONTINUUM Demo

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Role of the Physician in "Medical" Marijuana

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2019 Ruth Fox Scholar Now Serves on Scholarship Selection Committee

Dr. Benjamin Bearnot was selected as a recipient of the scholarship for ASAM’s 2019 meeting in Orlando, Florida. Two years later, he said he can see how the experience helped him grow as an addiction medicine specialist.

Educations

President-Elect Credits Ruth Fox Scholarship, DFASAM Designation for Furthering Career

After he started his first month of medical school in August 2002, making him eligible to become an ASAM member, he submitted his application to become a member. Since then, he’s grown in ways he never could have expected.

Educations

Overdose Prevention Sites

Educations

Our Words Have the Power to Hurt or Heal

“It costs nothing to change our language, except for time and intention,” Dr. Hendrée Jones said. “There’s a relationship between positive words and better patient outcomes. There’s a huge payoff and very little risk. What do we have to lose?”