Implementation Guide for Hospital and Emergency Department Substance Use Disorder Care

Background

SUD is common among patients in hospitals and EDs but often goes unaddressed despite the availability of effective treatments. Untreated SUD is associated with high costs and increased rates of premature hospital discharge and mortality. As universal points of health care access, hospitals and EDs have a unique opportunity to engage people with SUD and reduce related morbidity and mortality. 

The American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM) outlines standard capabilities that all hospitals should meet to effectively care for patients with SUD in the Fourth Edition of The ASAM Criteria, released in 2023. These standards offer one framework for the elements of care that all hospitalized patients with SUD should receive. 

ASAM recognizes that implementing these standards can be challenging for hospitals that are already struggling to meet existing requirements with an overburdened workforce. As such, ASAM convened a Presidential Task Force to develop guidance to support hospitals and EDs to implement these standards. (ASAM – American Society of Addiction Medicine, USA, 30.03.2026)

https://www.asam.org/quality-care/implementation-guidance/implementation-guide-hospital