Sep 27, 2023, 12:53 by ASAM Weekly Editors

Both the RAND Corporation and SAMHSA recently released reports providing broad perspectives on addiction in America. At over 600 pages, “America’s Opioid Ecosystem” (RAND) is a comprehensive review of the dynamic systems and issues underlying not only America’s opioid crisis but the entire addiction ecosystem.

Sep 20, 2023, 11:53 by ASAM Weekly Editors

This week we showcase publications from leading journals across the scientific fields. In a way, this mirrors the diversity of specialists in clinical settings and beyond who collaborate to treat addiction.

Sep 14, 2023, 18:25 by Molly McGrath

ASAM joined several other organizations in a letter to the leadership of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability opposing the U.S. Shipping Equity Act (H.R. 3721) that would allow the U.S. Post Office (USPS) to ship beverage alcohol.

Sep 13, 2023, 11:20 by ASAM Weekly Editors

Prevalence of Cannabis Use Disorder and Reasons for Use Among Adults.

Sep 9, 2023, 06:05 by Molly McGrath

Sep 7, 2023, 19:54 by Molly McGrath

Sep 6, 2023, 13:52 by ASAM Weekly Editors

Examining sociodemographic correlates of opioid use, misuse, and use disorders in the All of Us Research Program

Aug 30, 2023, 11:52 by ASAM Weekly Editors

Marijuana and hallucinogen use, binge drinking reached historic highs among adults 35 to 50

Aug 23, 2023, 09:06 by ASAM Weekly Editors

Perceptions of Safety of Daily Cannabis vs Tobacco Smoking and Secondhand Smoke Exposure, 2017-2021

Aug 21, 2023, 12:18 by Molly McGrath

On August 16th, the Louisiana Society of Addiction Medicine (LASAM) sent a letter to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME) regarding the implementation of the state’s newly enacted telehealth law.

Aug 16, 2023, 10:26 by ASAM Weekly Editors

The Future of Addiction Treatment Lies in Narrowing the Treatment Gap

Aug 14, 2023, 10:27 by Dr. Brian Hurley, MD, MBA, FAPA, DFASAM

In the time of the worst overdose crisis in American history, those of us who work in the field of addiction medicine have the responsibility of bringing treatment to where patients with addiction are. The addiction treatment gap refers to the approximately 94% of people with one or more DSM-5 defined substance use disorders (SUDs) who did not receive any addiction treatment (according to the SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) conducted in 2021).

Aug 9, 2023, 09:20 by ASAM Weekly Editors

ASAM Clinical Considerations: Buprenorphine Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder

Aug 3, 2023, 15:07 by Molly McGrath

On July 28, 2023, ASAM responded to a request for information (RFI) from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding a proposed framework to support and accelerate treatment and remission from nicotine/tobacco use disorder (TUD).

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.