American
Board of Addiction Medicine
Significance
of ABAM Certification
What does
it mean to be ABAM Certified?
Physicians
certified by ABAM have the knowledge and skills to provide prevention,
screening, intervention and treatment related to drug use disorders and
addictions. These addictions can be to alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs,
including illicit drugs and prescription medications. In addition, these
physicians can recognize and treat the psychological and physical complications
of addiction. ABAM-certified physicians have taken a rigorous, six-hour
examination to verify that they are competent to be Addiction Medicine
physicians.
What
type of treatments do ABAM-certified physicians provide?
ABAM-certified
physicians use the full range of evidence-based treatments available to treat
addictions and drug use disorders. These can include behavioral therapy (such
as individual or group counseling, cognitive therapy, or contingency
management), medications, or their combination. The specific type of treatment
or combination of treatments will vary depending on the patient's individual
needs and, often, on the types of drugs they use. The severity of addiction and
previous efforts to stop using drugs can also influence a treatment approach.
Finally, people who are addicted to drugs often suffer from other health
(including other mental health), occupational, legal, familial, and social
problems that should be addressed concurrently. ABAM-certified Addiction
Medicine physicians also work with other members of the health care team to
ensure that patients’ needs, and those of their families, are adequately met.
Reasons
to become ABAM Certified:
The ABAM
certificate is recognized throughout the world as signifying excellence in the
practice of Addiction Medicine. It demonstrates that a doctor has met vigorous
standards through intensive study, assessment, and evaluation. Certification is
designed to assure the public that a medical specialist has successfully
completed an approved educational program and an evaluation, including a secure
examination designed to assess the knowledge, experience, and skills requisite
to the provision of high quality patient care
• An
ABAM-certified physician is one who has shown mastery of the knowledge expected
of a physician practicing in the field of alcoholism and other drug
dependencies. Certification is an evolutionary process, and periodic
demonstration of the mastery of current knowledge is a critical element.
• State
Hospitals and Medical Facilities call on ABAM Certified Physicians for
testimony and identifying legislation that affects substance abuse issues and
treatment.
• Credibility
with third party payers when advocating for patient treatment/length of stay.
• Since its
inception in 1986, ABAM has certified more than 2,000 physicians in the
specialty of Addiction Medicine.
• The
importance of ABAM Certification is in direct proportion to the credibility of
the Supporting Specialty Society, the American Society of Addiction Medicine
(ASAM). How credible is ASAM, ASAM is represented in the AMA house of
delegates, is recognized as a Specialty Code, and is a member of the Council of
Medical Societies of American College of Physicians.