The ASAM Criteria
Evidence Base
The ASAM Criteria was built on a foundation of evidence around the multidimensional factors that influence disease severity and prognosis and expert consensus from a broad coalition of clinical stakeholders.
Peer-Reviewed Research on The ASAM Criteria
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a perspective on clinical decision-making that has been defined as “… the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients … [by] integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research” (Sackett, Rosenberg, Gray, Haynes, & Richardson, 1996, p. 71).
The ASAM Criteria was built on a foundation of evidence around the multidimensional factors that influence disease severity and prognosis and expert consensus from a broad coalition of clinical stakeholders. Since then, there have been more than two decades of peer-reviewed research on The ASAM Criteria addressing outcomes relevant to feasibility, reliability, validity, accuracy, and effectiveness.
- Matching patients with substance use disorder to optimal level of care with the ASAM Criteria software. Stallvik, M; Gastfriend, DR; Nordahl, HM (2015) Journal of Substance Use, 20(6), 389-398.
- Predictive and convergent validity of the ASAM criteria software in Norway. Stallvik, M; Gastfriend, DR (2014) Addiction Research & Theory, 22(6), 515-523.
- No-Show for Treatment in Substance Abuse Patients with Comorbid Symptomatology: Validity Results from a Controlled Trial of the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria. Angarita, GA; Reif, S; Pirard, S; Lee, S; Sharon, E; Gastfriend, DR (2007) Journal Of Addiction Medicine, 1(2), 79-87.
- Day hospital and residential addiction treatment: randomized and nonrandomized managed care clients. Witbrodt, J; Bond, J; Kaskutas, LA; Weisner, C; Jaeger, G; Pating, D; Moore, C (2007) Journal Of Consulting And Clinical Psychology, 75(6), 947-959.
- The Combined Effects of Treatment Intensity, Self-Help Groups and Patient Attributes on Drinking Outcomes. Magura, S; Fong, C; Staines, GL.; Cleland, C; Foote, J; Rosenblum, A; Kosanke, N; DeLuca, A (2005) Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 37(1), 85-92.
- Reliability of multidimensional substance abuse treatment matching: implementing the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria. Baker, SL; Gastfriend, DR (2003) Journal Of Addictive Diseases, 22 Suppl 1, 45-60.
- Impact of patient placement criteria on substance abuse treatment under the Oregon Health Plan. Deck, D; Gabriel, R; Knudsen, J; Grams, G (2003) Journal of addictive diseases, 22 Suppl 1, 27-44.
- Predictive validity of the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria for naturalistically matched vs. mismatched alcoholism patients. Magura, S; Staines, G; Kosanke, N; Rosenblum, A; Foote, J; DeLuca, A; Bali, P (2003) The American Journal On Addictions, 12(5), 386-397.
- Predictive validity of the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria for hospital utilization. Sharon, E; Krebs, C; Turner, W; Desai, N; Binus, G; Penk, W; Gastfriend, DR (2003) Journal Of Addictive Diseases, 22 Suppl 1, 79-93.
- Convergent validity of the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria using a standardized computer algorithm. Staines, G; Kosanke, N; Magura, S; Bali, P; Foote, J; Deluca, A (2003) Journal Of Addictive Diseases, 22 Suppl 1, 61-77.
- Feasibility of matching alcohol patients to ASAM levels of care. Kosanke, N; Magura, S; Staines, G; Foote, J; DeLuca, A (2002) The American Journal On Addictions, 11(2), 124-134.
- Impact of centralized intake on drug and alcohol treatment placement decisions. Scott, CK; Foss, MA (2002) Journal Of Psychoactive Drugs, 34(1), 7-15.
- Feasibility of multidimensional substance abuse treatment matching: automating the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria. Turner, WM; Turner, KH; Reif, S; Gutowski, WE; Gastfriend, DR (1999) Drug And Alcohol Dependence, 55(2019), 35-43.
- An initial evaluation of the psychosocial dimensions of the American Society of Addiction Medicine criteria for inpatient versus intensive outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation. McKay, JR; Cacciola, JS; McLellan, AT; Alterman, AI; Wirtz, PW (1997) Journal Of Studies On Alcohol, 58(3), 239-252.
- Convergent validity of the ASAM criteria in co-occurring disorders. Stallvik, M; Nordahl, HM (2014) Journal Of Dual Diagnosis, 10(2), 68-78.
- Residential placement for veterans with addiction: American Society of Addiction Medicine criteria vs. a veterans homeless program. Westermeyer, J; Lee, K (2013) The Journal Of Nervous And Mental Disease, 201(7), 567-571.
Real-World Implementation
Additional peer-reviewed research has explored variables that predict level of care placement, experiences in real-world implementations, processes for improving validity by learning from real world implementations, use in utilization management, and future research priorities.
- New constructs and assessments for relapse and continued use potential in the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria. Gastfriend DR, Rubin A, Sharon E, Turner WM, Anton RF, Donovan DM, Gorski T, Marlatt GA, Maisto S, Schultz TK, Shulman GD. (2003) J Addict Dis. 22 Suppl 1:95-111.
- Patient placement criteria and their relation to access to appropriate level of care and engagement in alcoholism treatment. (2001) Rubin A, Gastfriend DR. Recent Dev Alcohol, 5:157-76.
- Factors associated with level of care assignment in substance abuse treatment. Gregoire, TK (2000) Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 18(3), 241-248.
- Implementing the ASAM Criteria in community treatment centers in Illinois: opportunities and challenges. Heatherton B (2000) J Addict Disorders, 19(2):109-16.
- Placement Matching: Challenges and Technical Progress (2000) Gastfriend DR, Lu SH, Sharon E. Subst Use Misuse. 35(12-14):2191-213.
- Treatment matching. Theoretic basis and practical implications. (1997) Gastfriend DR, McLellan AT. Med Clin North Am. Jul;81(4):945-66.
- The ASAM and Green Spring Alcohol and Drug Detoxification and Rehabilitation Criteria for Utilization Review (1995) Book J, Harbin H, Marques C, Silverman C, LizanichâAro S, Lazarus A. Am J on Addictions 4(3), 187-197.