ASAM Criteria
Also written as: ASAM — American Society of Addiction Medicine Criteria
Standardized assessment tool used to determine appropriate level of care for substance use disorders.
Full Definition
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria is a comprehensive set of guidelines used to assess patients and match them to the most appropriate level of addiction treatment. The criteria evaluate six dimensions including acute intoxication/withdrawal potential, biomedical conditions, emotional/behavioral conditions, readiness to change, relapse potential, and recovery environment. These assessments help clinicians determine whether a patient needs outpatient counseling, intensive outpatient programs, residential treatment, or medically managed intensive inpatient services.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize ASAM when referring to the criteria; lowercase when used as an adjective.
In Context
- "The clinician completed the ASAM Criteria assessment to determine the patient's appropriate level of care." — Treatment planning documentation
- "Based on ASAM Criteria, the patient requires Level 3.1 clinically managed low-intensity residential services." — Clinical assessment report