American Society of Addiction Medicine
From Drug Rehab Wiki
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is an organization whose 3,000 members are all doctors. The purpose of the group is to establish addiction medicine as a medical specialty, increase access to addiction treatment, support research and prevention of addictions, and promote the role of the doctor in the treatment of addiction.
In order to become a fellow of the ASAM, you have to be a member for five years, complete a certification process, and contribute to the field of addiction medicine both through the society and outside of it. The certification process is done through the American Board of Addiction Medicine, which requires a written test and other qualifications.
Dr. Ruth Fox founded the Society in 1976, and today its long-range goal remains "to be the medical association recognized by all parties as the primary organization assuring that optimal treatment is available to and provided for all patients with the disease of addiction."
Addiction medicine is not yet recognized as a specialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties, which recognizes only 24 specialties, such as pediatrics, surgery, urology, and plastic surgery. However, the American Medical Association has designated addiction medicine as a specialty, and the ASAM became a voting member of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates in June 1988.
In 2011, the ASAM defined addiction as "a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors. Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one's behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death."
Like obesity and alcoholism, addiction is a behavior-based disease, and therefore difficult to treat because patients must undergo lifestyle changes in order to recover. With most diseases, medication and surgical procedures are the basis of treatment.
