ASAM Releases New Assessment Guide to Help Clinicians Select an Appropriate Level of Addiction Care for Patients

Rockville, MD (Jan. 27, 2025) – The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has announced today the release of The ASAM Criteria® Fourth Edition Level of Care Assessment Guide, a streamlined tool that helps clinicians collect sufficient patient information to recommend an appropriate level of addiction care.  

The free guide, which was developed by ASAM and pilot tested by UCLA Integrated Substance Use and Addiction Programs (ISAP), is designed to assess a patient’s unique needs and identify the intensity of treatment services that best addresses those needs. This process involves the application of the ASAM Dimensional Admission Criteria, which provides a holistic evaluation of a patient’s physical and mental health, and psychosocial needs. Through this complete and comprehensive review, clinicians can make well-informed level of care recommendations.   

The guide aims to standardize this level of care decision-making process and bring it into alignment with The ASAM Criteria Fourth Edition, the most widely used and comprehensive set of standards for placement, continued service, and transfer of patients with addiction and co-occurring conditions. The ASAM Criteria outlines four broad levels of addiction care: outpatient, intensive outpatient/high-intensity outpatient, residential, and inpatient.  

The Level of Care Assessment Guide can be used before a patient begins treatment or is admitted into a program. A printable version of the guide can be found here. Developing a national standard for patient assessment is an important foundation for future measurement-based care and quality measurement initiatives. 

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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 8,000 physicians, clinicians, and associated professionals in the field of addiction medicine. ASAM is dedicated to increasing access 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.   

Media Contact

Sarah Shelson

301-547-4110 

sshelson@ASAM.org