Aug 2, 2023, 12:28 by ASAM Weekly Editors

Guest Editorial by David A. Gorelick, MD, PhD, DLFAPA, FASAM

Aug 2, 2023, 08:17 by Molly McGrath

In July, ASAM signed a letter in support of S. 1378, Connecting Our Medical Providers with Links to Expand Tailored and Effective Act (the "COMPLETE Act").

Jul 31, 2023, 11:14 by By David A. Gorelick, MD, PhD, DLFAPA, FASAM

Cannabis potency, the content of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), usually expressed as the percentage of dry weight, has increased substantially worldwide over the past four decades [1]. This higher potency poses a risk of increased harms because of evidence of a positive association between cannabis potency and adverse psychiatric effects from long-term cannabis use. This article reviews the evidence for this association.

Jul 30, 2023, 07:43 by Molly McGrath

U.S. federal law is currently understood to prohibit a key component of the LDB-OC strategy, or medical prescription of full agonist opioids (FAO) during a multi-day dose escalation of buprenorphine, for all patients except those individuals (1) with pain transitioning from FAO to buprenorphine, (2) admitted to a hospital, or (3) enrolled in an opioid treatment program (OTP). Importantly, this current understanding of law creates unnecessary risk for patients and prescribers in many outpatient settings, as some prescribers are advising patients to continue using their own illicit opioids during buprenorphine dose escalation when the strategy is viewed as the least bad option for initiating lifesaving medication.

Jul 29, 2023, 07:15 by Molly McGrath

Major changes are coming to the Medicare program for Addiction Specialist Physicians (ASPs) and other practitioners treating addiction in 2024. On July 13th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the annual Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). This major rule details the annual payment policies that CMS plans to implement in the following year.

Jul 28, 2023, 13:38 by Molly McGrath

The American Society of Addiction Medication today released a new public policy statement calling for Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) across the country to be fundamentally oriented toward promoting public health, serving patients and their clinical care teams, and preventing overdose and other adverse harms.

Jul 25, 2023, 14:59 by ASAM Weekly Editors

Remove Arbitrary Barrier to Evidence-based Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorder

Jul 24, 2023, 11:55 by Richard Rawson, PhD for the Motivational Incentives Policy Group

Although the current overdose crisis in the US is almost universally referred to as the “opioid” or “fentanyl crisis”1,2, the overdose death rate associated with psychomotor stimulants including methamphetamine and cocaine has also dramatically increased in recent years.

Jul 20, 2023, 14:37 by Molly McGrath

For the second year in a row, ASAM has assembled a mid-year report to ensure that members are up to date on what took place in their states and nationwide.

Jul 20, 2023, 09:37 by ASAM Weekly Editors

Questioning the Right to Pain Relief and Its Role in the Opioid Epidemic

Jul 19, 2023, 18:47 by Molly McGrath

Today, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) applauded the House Energy & Commerce Committee for voting to include key provisions in the bipartisan H.R. 4531 – the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, legislation which aims to address the nation’s ongoing addiction and overdose crisis.

Jul 13, 2023, 10:16 by Molly McGrath

Today, July 13th, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a markup of 17 bills, including HR 4531 - the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act.

Jul 12, 2023, 13:44 by ASAM Weekly Editors

Xylazine effects on opioid-induced brain hypoxia

Jul 6, 2023, 18:58 by Molly McGrath

Jul 4, 2023, 13:54 by ASAM Weekly Editors

Psychedelics reopen the social reward learning critical period

Jun 28, 2023, 17:54 by Molly McGrath

Jun 28, 2023, 12:42 by ASAM Weekly Editors

Reduced Stress-Related Neural Network Activity Mediates the Effect of Alcohol on Cardiovascular Risk

Jun 27, 2023, 09:19 by Bob Davis

The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public of a widespread fraud scheme in which scammers impersonate DEA agents in an attempt to extort money or steal personal identifiable information.

Jun 21, 2023, 10:58 by ASAM Weekly Editors

Signaling-specific inhibition of the CB1 receptor for cannabis use disorder

Jun 20, 2023, 10:05 by Molly McGrath

This week, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will take steps to advance a range of legislation that aims to strengthen the nation’s approach to the addiction and overdose crisis—and, ultimately, save lives. However, we are deeply disappointed that the Subcommittee has chosen to leave the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act (MOTAA) (H.R. 1359) off its docket for this week’s legislative hearing. MOTAA is a bipartisan bill that would create a small, but necessary, adjustment in a longstanding closed system of clinics. It would accomplish this by empowering expert addiction specialist physicians — not just clinicians working in an opioid treatment program (OTP) — to prescribe methadone to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). The bill has received broad support from national organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Pharmacists Association.