ASAM strongly supports the expanded use of clinical standards of care, including The ASAM Criteria, throughout the addiction treatment system. Correct implementation of these standards is critical for effective treatment planning and care delivery.
Recent growth in use of The ASAM Criteria has been accompanied by increasing reports of misuse and unapproved use by some providers and payers. In some cases, parts of The ASAM Criteria standards are used but they are not implemented comprehensively. These actions threaten the long-term credibility and integrity of The ASAM Criteria and undermine the efforts of providers and payers who implement it correctly. ASAM has a responsibility – to providers, payers, regulators, patients and their families – to ensure The ASAM Criteria continues to be equated with high-quality care proven to be effective in addiction treatment.
To that end, ASAM is embarking on a number of modifications to The ASAM Criteria copyright permissions processes. This includes a permissions agreement process to authorize use of ASAM’s intellectual property with a disclaimer that helps avoid any confusion among patient, families, providers or payers. To learn more, visit the Criteria copyright permissions page.