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Welcome to ASAM Weekly ASAM Today we launch our new electronic communication, ASAM Weekly. Our focus and mission is to promote the science and art of addiction medicine, and improve access to newsworthy information for our members. We will strive to maintain the highest standards of editorial integrity, independent of any special interests. We will provide important, well-documented, peer-reviewed news items and articles on a diverse range of addiction topics to keep our membership informed in multiple areas of addiction medicine, including developments in related fields. We hope to foster responsible and balanced debate on issues that affect addiction medicine and health care. As important, we will inform our members about nonclinical aspects of addiction medicine and public health, including political, philosophic, ethical, legal, environmental economic, historical and cultural. We recognize that ASAM Weekly has a social responsibility to improve the total human condition and promote the integrity of science. We will strive to achieve the highest level of ethical medical journalism and communication, and to produce an e-publication that is timely, credible and readable with resources to further information for readers enjoyment. This will be a dynamic media and we will be making modifications to format, layout and content with each issue, depending on ASAM member comments and feedback. ASAM Weekly is YOUR communication tool to use and inform fellow members regarding addiction medicine. Please take time to make use of it. After you have read this issue, we encourage you to fill out a four-question survey to help us shape future issues by clicking here. Richard G. Soper, M.D.,J.D.,M.S., FASAM Editor-In-Chief 2011 Medical-Scientific Conference Program is Now Online ASAM Share    
ASAM will launch its Live Learning Center at this year's annual conference in Washington, DC, April 14-17. Register for the conference and receive free online access to all of the recorded sessions and synched presentations. Click here for the full program and registration information, click here for the exhibit prospectus and click here for the application. Early registration and hotel room rates end March 21.  ASAM Legislative Day — April 13: Congressman Tonko to Deliver Opening Address ASAM Share
Educate Congressional representatives about addiction medicine and addiction treatment parity in health care coverage. The event immediately precedes ASAM's Medical-Scientific Conference in Washington, D.C. Find more information on ASAM's Legislative Day page.  ASAM Member-Get-A-Member Campaign ASAM Share
ASAM's Member-Get-A-Member Campaign is going on through April 1. Share your ASAM experience with a peer and invite him or her to join ASAM today. Each new member you recruit moves you closer to receiving one of the following*:
*A drawing will be held in the event of a tie. This offer excludes recruitment of medical students.  Renew Your Membership Today ASAM Share
Reminder — If you have not already renewed your ASAM membership for 2011, please do so now in order to continue to receive your membership benefits and services. Renewing is easy. You can renew online with your credit card by using your membership credentials, or you can contact the national office at 301.656.3920 or 800.844.8948. For an extensive list of membership benefits and services, visit ASAM's website at www.asam.org. ASAM Career Center Webinar — March 16 ASAM Share
As an industry leader dedicated to improving the care and treatment of people with the disease of addiction, we are pleased to offer you a top-notch online recruiting site that is dedicated to connecting industry employers and professionals nationwide. Join us for an exclusive ASAM Career Center Webinar from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. EST on March 16. The webinar will demonstrate the benefits of posting your jobs to the ASAM Career Center, an overview of current health care industry trends, and a live job posting demonstration. Contact Shayla Clark at shayla.clark@boxwoodtech.com to reserve your seat now. More  5 Synthetic Cannabinoids Are Now Schedule I Controlled Substances Federal Register Share
On March 1, five synthetic cannabinoids are Schedule I controlled substances. The substances are 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl) indole (JWH–018), 1- butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH–073), 1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-3-(1- naphthoyl) indole (JWH–200), 5-(1,1- dimethylheptyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3- hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol (CP– 47,497), and 5-(1,1-dimethyloctyl)-2- [(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol (cannabicyclohexanol; CP–47,497 C8 homologue). More  Rep. Rogers to Governor: Stop the Repeal of Florida's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program U.S. Representative Hal Rogers Share
U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers, R-KY, called on Florida Gov. Rick Scott to reconsider his proposal to repeal Florida's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. In a letter, the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse, noted that the abuse and misuse of prescription drugs is the country's fastest growing drug problem, and Florida is ground zero for black market painkillers that continue to spawn overdoses and feed illegal habits across the country. More  ASAM/ISAM send letter to Illinois governor opposing proposed cuts to state drug and alcohol prevention and treatment programs ASAM Share
The governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, as part of his proposed 2012 budget, plans to cut all state general revenue, non-Medicaid funds for drug and alcohol addiction treatment and prevention. According to Sara Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, 80 percent of drug treatment clients will be denied care and 100 percent of youth presentation services will be eliminated as a result of these drastic cuts. The elimination of these programs is scheduled for March 15 instead of July 1 when the 2012 fiscal year begins. ASAM has written a compelling letter to the governor addressing the negative effects such cuts will have on Illinois communities and future medical costs. More Free Parity Webinar for States and Providers — March 10 SAMHSA Share
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act went into effect in January. To help grasp the utilization and implementation of this new federal law, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is hosting a free webinar from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. EST March 10. Further information and webinar access can be found here.  Sign Up With PCSS-M Now ASAM Share
 The Physician Clinical Support System for Methadone (PCSS-M) is a free, nationwide program through which health care providers needing information and mentoring on methadone treatment for opioid addiction and/or pain management can connect with experts in the field. They come from across the country and work in
licensed opioid treatment programs, pain clinics, primary care and other practice settings. PCSS-M provides services to any health care provider treating patients with methadone in an effort to increase the appropriate use and safety of this efficacious, but clinically challenging medication. Visit www.PCSSmentor.org for more information.
New Discussion Guide for Primary Health Care Providers SAMHSA Share
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recently released Talking With Your Adult Patients About Alcohol, Drug, and/or Mental Health Problems: A Discussion Guide for Primary Health Care Providers. The guide will equip primary health care providers with questions to begin discussions with their patients about alcohol, illicit drug and mental health problems as well as co-occurring disorders. This brief guide also includes resources for patients who need an evaluation based on positive screening results. You can download a copy for free by clicking here. More 30th Annual Ruth Fox Course for Physicians — April 14 ASAM Share
The Ruth Fox Course for Physicians, dedicated to the founding president of American Society of Addiction Medicine, provides practicing physicians with current trends in the field of addiction medicine. The course will be held April 14 at the Hilton Washington in Washington, DC. It is being held in conjunction with the ASAM 42nd Annual Medical-Scientific Conference. This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. For detailed information and to register, click here. Pain and Addiction: Common Threads XII, Safety First: Best Practices — April 14 ASAM Share
Common Threads XII, Safety First: Best Practices will be held April 14 in conjunction with the ASAM 42nd Annual Medical-Scientific Conference in Washington, DC. This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. For detailed information and to register, click here.  Georgia GASAM Share
GASAM is working again to pass legislation — Physician Health Program for Georgia — which was passed in 2010 with our input. We are also pushing for a physician sensitive patient protective prescription monitoring program for Georgia to help stop the epidemic of prescription drug overdoses, and aid Suboxone providers and legitimate pain providers. Members across the state continue pushing to educate medical students and physicians about physician health and addiction treatment. GASAM will hold its yearly face-to-face chapter meeting during the annual conference in April in Washington, DC, and will hold another state wide meeting in August during the GASAM Conference in Atlanta. For information on the August conference, click here.  North Carolina NCSAM Share
NCSAM is co-sponsoring the Addiction Medicine Conference 2011: Meeting Tomorrow's Challenges Today April 29-30 at the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park in Asheville, NC. NCSAM President James Finch, M.D., who also serves as the director of physician education at the Governor's Institute on Substance Abuse, is co-director of the conference. Conference seminars include an addiction medicine series designed for clinicians covering screening, brief interventions and other core concepts, with an advanced track dealing with more difficult clinical issues such as prescribing for anxiety or attention deficit disorders in the setting of addiction or dealing with problematic personality disorder related behaviors. The conference also includes an opioid treatment program medical directors/medical teams forum, motivational interventions workshops, best practices in Buprenorphine Tx workshops, pain management seminars, and a pregnancy and substance abuse workshop. The NCSAM will hold a business meeting over lunch April 29 at noon, and will host a reception that evening. To register, or for more information, contact the Governor's Institute on Substance Abuse at 919.990.9559 or tyler.vansteinburgh@governorsinstitute.org. Pennsylvania PSAM Share
PSAM's 2011 Spring Conference will be held March 25 at the Caron Foundation Main Campus in Wernersville, PA. Sessions will include: Recovery Management & Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care: National and Philadelphia Perspectives (William L. White, M.A., Arthur C. Evans Jr., Ph.D.); Medication Assisted Recovery — interactive discussion; Pharmacologic Approaches to Addictions (Kyle Kampman, M.D.); and Buprenorphine in its Eighth Year — interactive discussion. Contact PSAM at psam@pamedsoc.org or 717.909.2696 for more information. Click here for the conference brochure. |
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