Retrospective evaluation of ASAM criteria in adolescents receiving weekly outpatient treatment for co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders.

American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria are widely used to determine level of care/treatment intensity. However, there is a lack of research on the validity of ASAM placement criteria in adolescents with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders (SUD), who generally meet ASAM criteria for more intensive treatment. No studies have been done evaluating whether integrated treatment approaches for co-occurring disorders might produce similar outcomes to more intensive (and costly) levels of care. This study examined the charts of 32 adolescents who participated in protocol CTN-0028 (OROS-MPH for ADHD in Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders) to determine ASAM placement criteria.

Despite the fact 82% of the sample would have been assigned to more intensive treatment based on retrospective determination of ASAM placement criteria, treatment outcomes were comparable across all study groups. If replicated, results would suggest that less intensive integrated treatment approaches may produce comparable outcomes to more intensive (e.g., residential) for adolescents with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders.

Related protocols: CTN-0028