Medical Community Invited to Champion Treatment Week’s Drive to Combat Addiction Stigma and Deliver Evidence-Based Care

Rockville, MD, October 16, 2023 – The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), along with its partners and collaborators, is hosting National Addiction Treatment Week from October 16-22, 2023. The week will highlight the experiences of medical community members who treat addiction using evidence-based approaches to raise awareness that addiction is a chronic, treatable disease; challenge the stigma surrounding addiction; and inspire others in the medical community to learn about and treat addiction.

Recent data paint a concerning picture: in 2021, 44 million Americans (aged 12 and above) needed substance use intervention, but only 4 million received treatment. In other words, about 90% of people needing treatment did not receive it. Furthermore, nearly 30 million individuals had alcohol use disorders, and 16 million faced challenges related to marijuana use. These statistics spotlight an urgent call to arms for the medical community to heighten awareness, shatter misconceptions around addiction, and bolster treatment accessibility.

Brian Hurley, MD, MBA, DFASAM, president of ASAM, remarked, “The responsibility to address the addiction crisis lies throughout the medical community. It’s our collective obligation to address the extraordinary threat that addiction poses to the health and well-being of communities across the United States. Broadening our base of certified practitioners will catalyze monumental change and reaffirm patients’ fundamental right to recovery and effective care.”

National Addiction Treatment Week 2023 advances this mission through enlightening podcast episodes, offering firsthand experiences from addiction medicine specialists. Their narratives, speaking to the transformative effect of evidence-based treatments, are set to resonate with clinicians, nurses, counselors, and others in the field. Moreover, #TreatmentWeek across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn, will provide a tapestry of resources, from treatment guidelines to career pathways in addiction medicine. Also, on October 18, the medical community can rally behind End Stigma Day, diving deep into pragmatic strategies to diminish addiction prejudice.

Members of the medical community committed to fostering change are urged to stay connected via @TreatmentWeek on social platforms. Engage with the conversation through #TreatmentWeek, #TreatAddictionSaveLives, and #NATW. For more information, visit www.TreatAddictionSaveLives.org.

About the American Society of Addiction Medicine

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), founded in 1954, is a professional medical society representing over 7,000 physicians, clinicians, and associated professionals in the field of addiction medicine. ASAM is dedicated to increasing access to and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction. For more information, visit www.ASAM.org.