American Society of Addiction Medicine

What American Society of Addiction Medicine does

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional medical society founded in 1954 and headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. It serves more than 8,000 physicians, clinicians, and related professionals specializing in addiction medicine across the United States, with limited international (Canadian) representation. Its mission centers on increasing access to and improving the quality of addiction treatment through physician education, public education, research support, and prevention advocacy.

ASAM's core intellectual property is The ASAM Criteria, currently in its Fourth Edition — a comprehensive, person-centered guideline set for treatment planning and level-of-care recommendations for patients with addiction and co-occurring conditions. The Criteria are operationalized through the proprietary ASAM CONTINUUM clinical decision-support engine (with a related CO-Triage tool), and are reinforced by an ASAM Level of Care Certification program for treatment facilities delivered in partnership with CARF. Supporting products include the ASAM eLearning Center (built on a modern LMS with Articulate Rise 360), the ASAM Virtual Review Course, the Annual Conference on Innovations in Addiction Medicine and Science (with conferences now planned through 2032), a peer-reviewed Journal of Addiction Medicine, the ASAM Weekly newsletter, the Practice Pearls podcast, the ASAM Clinical Tips YouTube series, the ASAM Connect member community, a Career Center, and a growing catalog of specialized courses (Buprenorphine Mini Course, Women & Addiction, Adolescents and Transition-Aged Youth criteria) targeting prescribers, treatment courts, fellows, residents, and the broader clinical workforce.

ASAM operates a diversified nonprofit revenue model. Recurring subscription-like revenue comes from tiered membership dues (Regular, Associate, Resident, Student, International, Emeritus, Retired, Provisional) and CME-bearing courses priced from $99 to $249 with member discounts. Transactional revenue is generated through Annual Conference registration and sponsorships, publication and advertising sales, and licensing of ASAM Criteria intellectual property. Federal grant funding (e.g., ONDCP-funded treatment-court training with All Rise, SAMHSA partnerships) and philanthropic grants (e.g., Scaife Family Foundation for Women & Addiction) contribute a project-based revenue layer. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and membership-led, leveraging the website (asam.org), email newsletters, podcasts, YouTube, regional State Chapters, and advocacy conferences to recruit and retain physician and clinician members.

Name

American Society of Addiction Medicine

Legal name

American Society of Addiction Medicine

Website

https://asam.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ASAM is a 501(c)(3) professional medical society founded in 1954, serving 8,000+ physicians, clinicians, and addiction specialists through clinical guidelines (The ASAM Criteria), CONTINUUM decision-support software, Level of Care Certification via CARF, and education, conferences, and publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from physicians, clinicians, and related professionals. Various membership tiers include Regular, Associate, Resident, Student, International, Emeritus, Retired, and Provisional categories.
2. Educational Programs and Certifications: Revenue from eLearning courses, live courses, signature courses, certification programs, and continuing medical education (CME) credits. Courses range from free (for members) to $199 for premium offerings.
3. Annual Conference: Registration fees and sponsorships from the Annual Conference on Innovations in Addiction Medicine and Science.
4. Publications: Revenue from The Journal of Addiction Medicine, ASAM Magazine, textbooks, licensing of ASAM intellectual property, and advertising.
5. Grants and Fundraising: Funding from federal grants (e.g., ONDCP grants, SAMHSA partnerships) and charitable donations to support education initiatives and advocacy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ASAM is a professional medical society that develops and disseminates The ASAM Criteria, the leading clinical guidelines for addiction treatment planning, and supports them with ASAM CONTINUUM decision-support software. It delivers CME-accredited education through an eLearning Center, signature review courses, and an Annual Conference; certifies treatment programs via the ASAM Level of Care Certification in partnership with CARF; publishes The Journal of Addiction Medicine and The ASAM Weekly; and conducts national and state advocacy on behalf of addiction medicine physicians and the patients they serve.

Product overview

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) operates as a professional medical society offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services focused on addiction medicine education, clinical guidelines, and quality standards. The core offerings include The ASAM Criteria (comprehensive treatment guidelines, now in its Fourth Edition), ASAM CONTINUUM (clinical decision support software implementing The ASAM Criteria), and ASAM eLearning Center (online education platform). Supporting products include ASAM Level of Care Certification, ASAM Criteria training courses, the ASAM Virtual Review Course, Annual Conference, ASAM Practice Pearls Podcast, ASAM Clinical Tips Video Series, ASAM Connect member community, The Journal of Addiction Medicine, The ASAM Weekly newsletter, and the ASAM Career Center. The ASAM Criteria and CONTINUUM software form the clinical foundation, while education products (eLearning Center, Virtual Review Course, Annual Conference) train professionals on implementation. The organization also provides advocacy, policy statements, and state chapter networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The ASAM Criteria: Comprehensive set of guidelines using a holistic, person-centered approach to developing treatment plans for patients with addiction and co-occurring conditions
• ASAM Continuum
• The ASAM Weekly
• The Journal of Addiction Medicine
• ASAM Practice Pearls
• ASAM Connect

Products and services

• The ASAM Criteria (4th Edition) A comprehensive set of treatment guidelines using a holistic, person-centered approach to developing treatment plans for patients with addiction and co-occurring conditions. Now in its Fourth Edition.
• ASAM CONTINUUM Clinical decision support software that implements The ASAM Criteria to help clinicians assess patients and determine appropriate level of care recommendations.
• ASAM eLearning Center Online education platform offering CME-accredited courses for healthcare professionals on addiction medicine topics, including DEA requirements, certification preparation, and continuing education credits.
• ASAM Level of Care Certification A certification program delivered in partnership with CARF that certifies addiction treatment programs can offer care aligned with The ASAM Criteria for levels 3.1, 3.5, and 3.7 of care.
• ASAM Virtual Review Course in Addiction Medicine An essential foundational course for physicians preparing for the addiction medicine exam or a career in addiction medicine, covering neurobiology, pharmacology, individual substances, and ethical concerns, delivered by an outstanding faculty lineup.
• ASAM Annual Conference Annual scientific conference showcasing innovations in addiction medicine and science, attended by leading addiction medicine professionals.
• Buprenorphine Mini Course A 2-hour online CME course providing a streamlined alternative to traditional 8-hour buprenorphine training, fulfilling part of the DEA SUD education requirement under Section 1263 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, and free for all registrants.
• ASAM Criteria 4th Edition Skill Building Course An interactive 6-hour live virtual course expanding on the Foundations course content, with members and non-members tiered pricing, following case scenarios along the patient's journey through the continuum of care.
• Women & Addiction Education Program Educational program for healthcare providers on substance use disorders in women, including courses, microlearning videos, and fact sheets on trauma-informed care.
• The Journal of Addiction Medicine The peer-reviewed official journal of ASAM publishing research and clinical practice articles in addiction medicine, with revenue from subscriptions and licensing.
• The ASAM Weekly The ASAM Weekly news briefing covering the latest stories in addiction medicine and updates on ASAM's educational initiatives and advocacy efforts.
• ASAM Practice Pearls Podcast A bi-weekly podcast featuring conversations with leading addiction medicine experts, delivering insights and practice pearls for clinicians on emerging evidence, clinical considerations, and practical strategies.
• ASAM Connect Online community platform for peer connection and idea sharing among ASAM members, featuring communities, a live newsfeed, and chapter engagement.
• ASAM Career Center Job board connecting employers with addiction medicine professionals seeking physician positions, with revenue from employer job postings.
• ASAM Clinical Tips Video Series A short, practical video takeaway series from leading experts on essential SUD topics, available on YouTube.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,000+ physicians, clinicians, and related professionals served as members
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CARF (Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2018ASAM partnered with CARF to offer the ASAM Level of Care Certification for addiction treatment programs. This partnership links ASAM's addiction treatment expertise with CARF's accreditation knowledge to certify that treatment centers can offer care in line with The ASAM Criteria for levels 3.1, 3.5, and 3.7. Launched nationwide on June 1, 2020.
• All RisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASAM partnered with All Rise (formerly NADCP) through an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) grant initiative to provide training for medical providers on integrating addiction medicine with treatment courts. The course addresses treating justice-involved individuals with substance use disorders.
• American Medical Association (AMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMA co-sponsored or endorsed content on the Buprenorphine Mini Course addressing opioid use disorder treatment and DEA education requirements.
• ShatterproofminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShatterproof co-sponsored content on the Buprenorphine Mini Course for DEA education requirements on substance use disorders.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP): AAAP is the leading professional society for psychiatrists specializing in addiction. It directly overlaps with ASAM in setting addiction treatment standards, providing CME, certifying physicians, and advocating at the federal level, making it the closest functional peer.
• NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals: NAADAC represents counselors, educators, and other addiction-focused professionals, paralleling ASAM's role for the broader addiction workforce. It offers certification, CE, and advocacy on overlapping issues (SUD treatment access, reimbursement, federal policy), competing for similar audiences and grant funding.

Broad incumbents

• American Psychiatric Association (APA): APA is a much larger professional society covering all of psychiatry, including addiction psychiatry as a subspecialty. It publishes DSM and Practice Guidelines that overlap with ASAM Criteria, and offers CME and certification that competes for the same psychiatrist members and federal influence.
• American Medical Association (AMA): AMA is the largest US physician professional association with broad reach across specialties including addiction medicine. AMA co-sponsors content with ASAM (e.g., Buprenorphine Mini Course) and competes for federal advocacy influence and CME delivery to physician members.
• American College of Physicians (ACP): ACP is a large internal medicine professional society that issues clinical guidelines and CME for internists, including those practicing addiction medicine. It represents a broader-incumbent peer competing for CME delivery, guideline authority, and federal advocacy influence in physician practice.

Emerging players

• Shatterproof: Shatterproof is a national nonprofit focused on addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery, with growing influence on payer policy and SUD quality standards. It co-sponsors content with ASAM (Buprenorphine Mini Course) and competes for federal grant funding and employer engagement.
• Partnership to End Addiction: Partnership to End Addiction is a national nonprofit working on family-based addiction support and policy advocacy. It overlaps with ASAM's prevention, advocacy, and public education missions and competes for philanthropic funding and federal attention.

Regional players

• International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM): ISAM is a global professional society for addiction medicine physicians. ASAM operates primarily in the US with international members, while ISAM serves the global addiction medicine community, representing a regional/international peer with overlapping content and certification ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLLrwuP1G_-43CLBxDgWQbA
• Xx.com/asamorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/addictionmedicine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-society-of-addiction-medicine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Society of Addiction Medicine