Understanding ASAM Criteria for Non-Clinicians

Sponsor: New Hampshire Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors Association

This training is scheduled to be held in person; however, we reserve the right to offer it virtually based on public health conditions and CDC Advisories.

PRESENTATION:  This training will focus on an introduction to the ASAM criteria and its application.  Participants will learn the 6 dimensions of the criteria, Withdrawal Management levels of care, treatment levels of care, imminent danger, continuing care criteria and discharge criteria.  Practice perspective exercises will be utilized to help participants develop a basic working application of the criteria.  As a result of this training participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of how the Criteria are utilized to determine patient’s treatment plans and level of care placement; 
• Explore the fixed length of stay, program driven model and how it can result in negative outcomes; and
• Learn about and verbalize an understanding of patient center care and patient driven lengths of stay.

PRESENTER:   Paul Kiernan is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor with 12 years of experience working in the field of addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Mr. Kiernan is a Project Manager at JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. and works on the New Hampshire Center for Excellence Addressing Alcohol and other Drugs, a project that provides statewide training and technical assistance (nhcenterforexcellence.org),  Mr. Kiernan works on projects specific to best practices in the treatment of substance use disorder including implementation of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.  Mr. Kiernan also provides technical consultation and support for a community of practice focused on substance use disorder. 

Prior to his position at the Center for Excellence, Mr. Kiernan was the Clinical Services Specialist at the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services with the State of New Hampshire. At the Bureau, Mr. Kiernan provided technical assistance and training to agencies contracted with the State of New Hampshire as well as other state agencies upon request, audits of substance use disorder treatment records and contract monitoring and clinical oversight of these contacted agencies.  Mr. Kiernan was involved directly with the American Society of Addiction Medicine for the state role out of the CONTNIUUM Assessment patient placement software.  He also served on several committees including the New Hampshire State Internal Review Board, the Behavioral Health Equity Work Group and the Sentinel Event Review Team.

Mr. Kiernan also has years of experience working as a clinician providing services in residential withdrawal management, outpatient services and intensive outpatient programs. He spent the majority of his career working in intensive outpatient services at the Nathan Brody Program at Horizons Counseling Center.

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