Campaign aims to encourage physicians to explore addiction medicine board certification pathways available through ABPM and AOA  

Practice pathway mechanism to meet eligibility requirements for ABPM addiction medicine certification set to close in 2025 

Rockville, MD (Oct. 9, 2024) – The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and its collaborators will host National Addiction Treatment Week from October 21-25, 2024. The campaign will elevate the first-hand experiences of addiction medicine professionals on the frontlines of the addiction and overdose crisis and encourage physicians to explore board certification in addiction medicine. Through their stories, National Addiction Treatment Week aims to reduce stigma around addiction and grow the addiction medicine workforce. 

Both the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) offer board certification in addiction medicine. ABPM currently offers two pathways: the practice pathway and the ACGME-accredited fellowship pathway. With the practice pathway set to expire in 2025, this year’s National Addiction Treatment Week campaign aims to encourage aspiring addiction medicine specialists to understand the necessary requirements and qualifications of pursuing the currently available certification pathways, as well as the career benefits.  

New data underscore the necessity of growing a robust workforce of certified addiction medicine specialists. In 2023, 48.5 million Americans aged 12 or older reported having a substance use disorder. Additionally, overdose related deaths remain well above pre-pandemic levels, demonstrating a critical need to improve patient access to addiction care.  

“We must grow our base of certified addiction medicine specialists in order to combat the ongoing addiction and overdose crisis devastating our communities,” said Brian Hurley, MD, MBA, DFASAM, president of ASAM. “A strong workforce of addiction medicine specialists is essential to improve patient access to lifesaving, evidence-based treatments and care.” 

National Addiction Treatment Week 2024 will feature vital facts about substance use and highlight the stories and first-hand experiences of addiction medicine specialists. The #TreatmentWeek campaign will also publish a variety of career, treatment-related, and clinical resources for the medical community.  

Physicians, clinicians, and addiction experts can join virtual conversations using the campaign hashtags #TreatmentWeek, #TreatAddictionSaveLives, and #NATW, and can stay connected by following @TreatmentWeek on social platforms. For more information, visit www.TreatAddictionSaveLives.org. 

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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.