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A Deeper Guide to Addiction Treatment

levels of care addiction treatment

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Addiction Treatment and the ASAM Levels of Care

Why is it so important to have a discussion surrounding the idea of addiction treatment?

From the alcohol prohibition from 1920 to 1933 to the Hippie Movement of the 60s and 70s which made recreational weed and LSD us more popular, to the War on Drugs in1971, and more recently, the Opioid Epidemic beginning in the late 90s, drugs have been a huge part of American society.


Drug abuse and addiction affect not only individuals. Abuse and addiction also affect families, the community and all of society. Due to these costly and far-reaching effects, it’s important that you’re informed as possible on addiction treatment options either for you or for a loved one.

As such, knowing what to expect can reduce the anxiety people may feel about addiction treatment and encourage them to get help.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)

The first step for learning more about addiction treatment can be finding out more about the types of care and the levels of care.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine, more commonly called ASAM, has a history going back to 1954.

ASAM CONTINUUM™

The ASAM CONTINUUM™, also known as ASAM Criteria Decision Engine™, is a guide to assist counselors, clinicians, and other medical treatment officials to decide what kind of drug addiction treatment is necessary for the patient and how intense it should be.

ASAM Level 0.5 – Early Intervention

Level 0.5 is the least severe form of drug abuse. Therefore this is usually before the patient can even be considered addicted.

ASAM Level 1 – Outpatient Services

This level of care usually consists of about 9 hours a week of recovery and motivational enhancement strategies.

ASAM Level 2 – Intensive Outpatient Services/Partial Hospitalization

At this level of care, things become more in-depth. Therefore, care providers can handle the complexity of the patients’ particular situation.

ASAM Level 3 – Clinically Managed Low-Intensity Residential Services

Here is where treatment levels are for people severely addicted to a substance. At this level, the dangers of withdrawal or overdose are a high possibility.

ASAM Level 4 – Medically Managed Intensive Inpatient Services

So the nature of this type of addiction treatment is to provide 24-hour medical help. The assistance addresses the patients medical, emotional, behavioral, or cognitive problems that come from suddenly stopping a drug.

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