From Assessment to Care Planning: The ASAM Criteria Third Edition for Prescribers. Webinar

American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria 4th Edition:
Implications for Substance Use Disorder Treatment Providers

Original release date: October 27, 2025; Termination date: October 26, 2028.

View webinar

 

How to view the webinar and claim CME credits

  1. Click the "view webinar" button above to enroll and view the webinar on the Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Learning and Network Connection (SAPC-LNC) Platform.
  2. After you have viewed the webinar, you can request a certificate by completing the evaluation/certificate request form (the link will be displayed after the post-test in the SAPC-LNS)
It is free to register on the SPAC-LNC, view the webinar, and get CME credit.
A copy of the webinar slides is available on the SPAC Learning management System.

 

Continuing Education Credit(s)
This webinar has been approved for 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Certificates will be sent by email after the learner has filled out the evaluation/certificate request form (see above).

  • Physicians will receive a CME Certificate
  • Other learners will receive a Certificate of Attendance. This meets the continuing education requirements of many boards.

 

Webinar Overview
The webinar, hosted by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC), introduces prescribers within the SAPC provider network to the third edition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria. Focusing on practical application, it explores how the ASAM Criteria support clinical assessment, medical necessity determinations, care planning, and level-of-care placement. Through case examples and decision-making strategies aligned with Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) requirements and person-centered care principles, prescribers will gain tools to deliver individualized, stage-matched care.

Completion of this training fulfills the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and SAPC requirement that providers under the DMC-ODS system complete ASAM training and is intended only for physicians and other clinicians whose scope of practice includes prescribing medications.   

 

Target Audience
This training is designed for physicians and other prescribers within the Los Angeles County SAPC provider network.

 

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the webinar, participants will will feel more confident in their ability to:

  1. Integrate the six dimensions of the ASAM Criteria and risk rating scale to identify imminent needs for patients with substance use disorder(s).
  2. Determine the appropriate level of care (LOC) and service planning needs using the ASAM Criteria.
  3. Deliver individualized, stage-matched care to patients with substance use disorder(s)

 

Webinar Presenter

Graciela Guardado, BSN, RN. Clinical Standards & Training (CST) Branch, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC) Bureau Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health

  

Resources for Further Study

SAPC Resource Guide - with tables for Matching Risk and Severity, ASAM Levels of Care: Outpatient Services, Residential Services, Medically Managed & Out Patient Therapy, and Levels of Withdrawal Management, and links to resources for further study including on MAT Guidance and Special Populations.

 

Accreditation Statement

California Medical Association accredited CME provider logo The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is accredited by the California Medical Association (CMA) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Other learners may receive a Certificate of attendance. According to the California Board of Registered Nursing, Continuing Medical Education is acceptable for meeting RN continuing education requirements, as long as the course is Category 1, and has been taken within the appropriate time frames.

 

Disclosure
No relevant financial relationships were disclosed by the authors or the planners. This activity is offered by an accredited CMA-CME provider and is not commercially supported.

 

Contact Information
If you have any questions related to the training content, please email Substance Abuse and Control (SAPC) Clinical Standards and Training (CST) Branch at sapc.cst@ph.lacounty.gov.

If you need technical support for with accessing the training, please email info@SAPC-LNC.org.