by K Rojas

Created on: January 04, 2007   Last Updated: April 17, 2007

HEALTH PROFESSION ANALYSIS:
THE ADDICTIONOLOGIST
Understanding Addictionology
Addictionology is a self-recognized sub-specialty requiring matriculation through specific certification-based Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses. As the concept of addiction as a social plague is a 20th century phenomenon, the history, research and literature on this field of healthcare is historically limited but expanding rapidly. Addictionology has been spurred by new scientific and socio-cultural research, the development of scientifically based treatment modalities, the medicalization of addiction, a growing global anti-prohibition stance, and modernized public healthcare policies. These events have allowed for new paradigms to improve the treatment of addiction in the 21st century. Still, both the profession and the disease carry an intractable historical stigma and conflicting government interests. In addition few physicians are willing to work in this "risky business," and the patients who are in the most need are also demographically less likely to gain treatment access.

Training, Licensure and Differentiation. Besides completing general medical education, addictionologists are often specialists, most notably in the fields of internal medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatry), psychiatry, and neurology. Research doctorates are also eligible to become certified in Addictionology; even if their academic qualifications prevent them from practicing in clinical settings, their contribution to the field cannot be underestimated.
Addictionology is a relatively new field and has not yet been listed by the American Medical Association (AMA) as a medical specialty. Addictionologists are practicing general medicine and specialty physicians who have completed an approved CME certification preparation course and subsequently passed the required examination. Application for certification and notice of acceptance from the certifying institution costs between $1100 to $1600 in fees, in addition to the cost of the preparation education. Certification examinations are held infrequently at limited geographic sites. (Amer.Soc 2003).
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), a certifying agency, was founded in 1954 in response to new research and federal regulations due to a historically large growth in opiate addiction following World War II. Other related professional support associations include the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM), the American Pain

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