May 3, 2022, 12:54 by Bob Davis

ASAM advocates for the need for sufficient appropriations for education, training, and loan repayment opportunities to expand the nation’s addiction treatment workforce.

Apr 28, 2022, 15:30 by Bob Davis

COSAM cautions that allowing law enforcement unrestricted access to the PDMP could compromise privacy and decrease treatment involvement.

Apr 28, 2022, 10:00 by Bob Davis

On April 28th, the Food and Drug Administration issued proposed rules to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and to prohibit all characterizing flavors in cigars, following through on its promise of one year ago.

Apr 26, 2022, 10:00 by Bob Davis

Amid the ongoing opioid public health emergency, questions abound over the best way to spend federal funds to improve patient outcomes in addiction care.

Apr 21, 2022, 21:40 by Bob Davis

Today, ASAM praised the Biden-Harris Administration for releasing its inaugural National Drug Control Strategy, a critical roadmap to help address America’s addiction and overdose crisis.

Apr 14, 2022, 13:30 by Bob Davis

On April 12th, the Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine (COSAM) sent a letter to members of the House Committee on the Judiciary opposing calls to reinstate felony penalties for possession of small amounts of controlled substances. Currently, the General Assembly is considering HB 22-1326, a sweeping piece of legislation to address the rise in fentanyl overdoses in Colorado.

Apr 13, 2022, 11:46 by Bob Davis

On April 8th, the Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine (COSAM) sent a letter to the sponsors of HB 22-1064, expressing support for their bipartisan and bicameral legislation to regulate synthetic nicotine. Specifically, this legislation would expand the statutory definition of tobacco products to include synthetic nicotine and prohibit the marketing and sale of all flavored nicotine products.

Apr 13, 2022, 08:58 by Bob Davis

On April 8th, the Pennsylvania Society of Addiction Medicine (PSAM) sent letters to key stakeholders within the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health urging for the tobacco-free policy to be reintroduced at the city’s behavioral health facilities. For three years, the Department of Behavioral Health upheld a tobacco-free policy at all contingent behavioral health facilities. However, this policy was reversed late last year.

Apr 7, 2022, 10:21 by Matthew Bryant

The organizations asked the Committee to support the legislation that phases out "parity opt-outs" among self-funded state and local health plans.

Apr 5, 2022, 10:24 by Matthew Bryant

The workshop was focused on identifying gaps in existing opioid prescriber education offers, as well as core competencies that should be included in educational content for opioid prescribers and other healthcare providers.

Mar 24, 2022, 12:07 by Bob Davis

On March 23, 2022, the DEA announced a new option for DEA-registered practitioners working in hospitals, clinics, or emergency rooms, and for DEA-registered hospitals/clinics that allow practitioners to operate under their registration number.

Mar 24, 2022, 10:31 by Bob Davis

On March 23rd, the Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine (TNSAM) sent a letter urging Governor Bill Lee to sign SB 2572 into law.

Mar 23, 2022, 10:52 by Bob Davis

In light on the ongoing tragedies related to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, on March 22, 2022, ASAM and other stakeholders sent a letter, spearheaded by former Representative Patrick J. Kennedy, to the Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, and the U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator, Samantha Power.

Mar 21, 2022, 08:56 by Bob Davis

As part of the National Alliance for Underage Drinking, ASAM sent a letter to Representative Roybal-Allard, Representative Joyce, and Representative DeLauro in support of reauthorization of the Sober Truth on Preventing (“STOP Act”).

Mar 7, 2022, 08:33 by Bob Davis

With overdose deaths at record levels, leading medical organizations representing addiction specialists call on Congress to enact bold policies to prevent and treat addiction, promote recovery, and save lives

Mar 3, 2022, 11:18 by Bob Davis

On March 2nd, the Northern New England Society of Addiction Medicine (NNESAM) sent a letter to the Joint Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety expressing support for LD 1862. This legislation would extend the state’s existing Good Samaritan protections to all individuals present at the scene of an overdose, barring any violent crimes.

Mar 2, 2022, 13:49 by Bob Davis

With Overdose Deaths at Record Levels, America’s Response Must Be Commensurate with the Magnitude of this Crisis.

Feb 16, 2022, 02:00 by Bob Davis

The ASAM Criteria Assessment Interview Guide is the first publicly available standardized version of The ASAM Criteria assessment. With this release, ASAM and UCLA hope to increase the quality and consistency of patient assessments and treatment recommendations.

Feb 15, 2022, 16:40 by Bob Davis

Last month, the U.S. DOL, HHS, and the Treasury sent a damning report to Congress elucidating health plans’ failure to ensure health coverage parity for mental health and substance use disorders.

Feb 9, 2022, 20:04 by Staff

Since 1999, the United States has experienced more than 1 million drug overdose deaths. This horrific and avoidable milestone underscores the urgent need to act so that we, as a country, can better address the needs of people with substance use disorders and those at risk for overdose with evidence-based interventions and treatment, and ultimately, save lives.