ASAM CRITERIA PRACTICE
EXAMINATION 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ What is ASAM?.
Answer: American Society of Addiction Medicine- it provides a common
language of holistic, biopsychosocial assessment and treatment across
addiction treatment
◍ ASAM Definition of treatment.
Answer: treatment is the use of any planned, intentional intervention in the
health, behavior, personal, and or family life of an individual suffering from
alcoholism or from another drug dependency designed to enable the affected
individual to achieve and maintain sobriety, physical and mental health, and
a maximum functional ability
◍ Mild Substance Use Disorder.
Answer: 2-3 criteria
◍ Six Dimensions of Multidimensional Assessment.
Answer: 1. Acute Intoxication and/or WD potential2. bio medical conditions
and complications3. emotional, behavioral, or cognitive conditions and
complications4. readiness to change5. relapse, continued use, or continued
problem potential6. recovery/living environment
◍ Moderate Substance Use Disorder.
Answer: 4-5 criteria
◍ Severe Substance Use Disorder.
Answer: 6 or more criteria
◍ Dimension 1 of ASAM.
, Answer: Acute Intoxication and/or withdrawal potential-exploring an indv.
past and current experiences of SU and WD
◍ Impaired Control Criteria.
Answer: Larger amounts/longer than intended; unsuccessful efforts to cut
down; time spent using/recovering; craving
◍ Dimension 2 of ASAM.
Answer: Biomedical conditions and complications-exploring an ind health
history and current physical condition
◍ Dimension 3 of ASAM.
Answer: emotional, behavioral, or cognitive conditions and
complications-exploring and ind thoughts, emotions, and mental health
issues
◍ Social Impairment Criteria.
Answer: Failure to fulfill obligations; social/interpersonal problems;
activities reduced
◍ Risky Use Criteria.
Answer: Use in hazardous situations; continued use despite
physical/psychological problems
◍ Pharmacological Criteria.
Answer: Tolerance and withdrawal
◍ Dimension 4 of ASAM.
Answer: Readiness to change-exploring an ind readiness and interest in
changing
◍ Craving.
Answer: Strong urge or desire to use; part of impaired control domain
◍ Tolerance.
Answer: Needing increased amounts to achieve effect or diminished effect
with same amount
◍ Dimension 5 of ASAM.
EXAMINATION 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ What is ASAM?.
Answer: American Society of Addiction Medicine- it provides a common
language of holistic, biopsychosocial assessment and treatment across
addiction treatment
◍ ASAM Definition of treatment.
Answer: treatment is the use of any planned, intentional intervention in the
health, behavior, personal, and or family life of an individual suffering from
alcoholism or from another drug dependency designed to enable the affected
individual to achieve and maintain sobriety, physical and mental health, and
a maximum functional ability
◍ Mild Substance Use Disorder.
Answer: 2-3 criteria
◍ Six Dimensions of Multidimensional Assessment.
Answer: 1. Acute Intoxication and/or WD potential2. bio medical conditions
and complications3. emotional, behavioral, or cognitive conditions and
complications4. readiness to change5. relapse, continued use, or continued
problem potential6. recovery/living environment
◍ Moderate Substance Use Disorder.
Answer: 4-5 criteria
◍ Severe Substance Use Disorder.
Answer: 6 or more criteria
◍ Dimension 1 of ASAM.
, Answer: Acute Intoxication and/or withdrawal potential-exploring an indv.
past and current experiences of SU and WD
◍ Impaired Control Criteria.
Answer: Larger amounts/longer than intended; unsuccessful efforts to cut
down; time spent using/recovering; craving
◍ Dimension 2 of ASAM.
Answer: Biomedical conditions and complications-exploring an ind health
history and current physical condition
◍ Dimension 3 of ASAM.
Answer: emotional, behavioral, or cognitive conditions and
complications-exploring and ind thoughts, emotions, and mental health
issues
◍ Social Impairment Criteria.
Answer: Failure to fulfill obligations; social/interpersonal problems;
activities reduced
◍ Risky Use Criteria.
Answer: Use in hazardous situations; continued use despite
physical/psychological problems
◍ Pharmacological Criteria.
Answer: Tolerance and withdrawal
◍ Dimension 4 of ASAM.
Answer: Readiness to change-exploring an ind readiness and interest in
changing
◍ Craving.
Answer: Strong urge or desire to use; part of impaired control domain
◍ Tolerance.
Answer: Needing increased amounts to achieve effect or diminished effect
with same amount
◍ Dimension 5 of ASAM.
