ASAM believes in a future in which addiction prevention, treatment, remission, and recovery are accessible to all, and where they profoundly improve the health of all people. The following principles guide our advocacy and shape ASAM’s advocacy priorities:
- Addiction policy should be guided by – and promote the use of – the latest science and best practices in addiction prevention, treatment, remission, and recovery. People with addiction deserve compassionate, evidence-based care that addresses the chronic nature of the disease of addiction.
- Strategic and multifaceted policy solutions are needed to drive the development of a more accessible, effective, robust, and comprehensive addiction prevention and treatment infrastructure.
- Policies and payment systems should ensure equitable access to comprehensive, high-quality addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
- Policy should challenge, rather than enforce, cultural misunderstanding, stigma and discrimination about the disease of addiction.
- Addiction policy and advocacy should respect and integrate the perspectives of people with addiction and their families.
Teach It
TEACH addiction medicine by expanding and strengthening our workforce and dispelling stigma.
Addiction is a complex medical disease that has become a public health emergency throughout the US. ASAM advocates for policies that grow the addiction medicine workforce by integrating addiction medicine into medical school and residency curricula, supporting training programs, and incentivizing clinicians to work in programs and practices that specialize in the treatment of substance use disorder.
Standardize It
STANDARDIZE the delivery of individualized addiction treatment so that more patients receive high-quality, evidence-based care.
There are many misconceptions about the disease of addiction, and a culture change is needed in this country to drive patients to the treatment options that have proven to be effective at reducing overdose deaths and supporting patients in remission and recovery. ASAM advocates for the use of nationally recognized guidelines and standards for the treatment of addiction and the dissemination of competency-based addiction education for all healthcare professionals.
Cover It
COVER addiction medicine in a way that expands patient access to comprehensive, high-quality addiction care.
One of the greatest barriers to the successful treatment of individuals with addiction is the current healthcare financing system for much of addiction treatment, which offers little support for the coordination of behavioral, social, and psychological services that patients often need in addition to medication. ASAM identifies and advocates for policies and practices that ensure equitable access to comprehensive high-quality addiction prevention, treatment, remission and recovery for all.