Addiction medicine now an official subspecialty

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has officially recognized addiction medicine as a subspecialty. The American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM), a Member Board of ABMS, sponsored the application for the subspecialty to allow physicians certified by any of the 24 ABMS Member Boards to apply for the new certificate.

"Substance use and addiction are serious health problems of enormous proportion and impact in this country and on our society," said ABMS President and CEO Lois Margaret Nora, MD, JD, MBA. "By offering a certification in this important subspecialty we continue in our role to assure patients and their families that their physician meets the high standards of practice and clinical knowledge, and has completed an approved educational program in this important medical field." 

Addiction medicine is defined as the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of persons with the disease of addiction, of those with substance-related health conditions, and of people who show unhealthy use of substances including nicotine, alcohol, prescription medications and other licit and illicit drugs. Physicians specializing in this field also help family members whose health and functioning are affected by a loved one's substance use or addiction.

It is estimated that 16 percent of the non-institutionalized U.S. population age 12 and over, or more than 40 million Americans, meets medical criteria for addiction involving nicotine, alcohol or other drugs, according to the orgnaization. Of those who need treatment, few receive evidence-based care. In 2014, 22.5 million people in the U.S. needed treatment for a substance use disorder involving alcohol or drugs other than nicotine, but only 11.6 percent received any form of inpatient, residential or outpatient treatment. There too, just a small percentage receive evidence-based care.

"ABMS recognition allows physicians from any of the 24 member boards to become board certified in this new subspecialty. This also will allow the community to seek accreditation by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education for addiction medicine fellowship programs," said ABPM Board Chair, Denece O. Kesler MD, MPH. "Increasing the number of well-trained and certified specialists in addiction medicine will significantly increase access to care for those in need of intervention and treatment. The acknowledgment of this field as a subspecialty will have a significant impact in the ability of the healthcare community to address a disease with far reaching effects on patients, communities and society as a whole."

ABPM is continuing to work on the implementation details of the new subspecialty, including the development of the first board certification exam.