
Optimizing Engagement and Retention of Nonabstinent Patients in Care
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Register
- Non-Member - $39
- Regular Member - $29
- Retired - $29
- Early Career Physician - $29
- Resident - $19
- Student - $19
- Associate - $19
- ASAM Staff - Free!
- International Member - $29
- Emeritus Member - $29
- Provisional Member - $29
- Fellow Member - $29
- Honorary Member - $29
- CRT Member - $29
Optimizing Engagement and Retention of Nonabstinent Patients in Care
Recorded: Thursday, April 24, 2025 to Sunday, April 27, 2025
On-Demand Session
Overview
This 75-minute on-demand session from the ASAM 56th Annual Conference addresses national trends in SUD and treatment engagement and local examples of implementation challenges, and outlining potential strategies such as creating trauma-sensitive, nonjudgmental environments, supporting patient engagement across the continuum of care, and avoiding administrative discharges for patients who return to use during treatment.
This workshop will provide an in-depth exploration of strategies to improve the engagement and retention of nonabstinent patients in substance use disorder treatment. Through practical case scenarios and interactive discussions, participants will learn how to implement key clinical recommendations that promote person-centered care, reduce administrative discharges, and address nonabstinence as a common part of recovery.
The target audience for this Introductory level session includes physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, other clinicians, researchers, residents, fellows, students, and counselors.
This session addresses the following ACGME Competencies:Patient Care and Procedural Skills, Practice-based Learning and Improvement.
This session addresses the following IPEC Competencies: Values and Ethics, Interprofessional Communication.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion, learners will be able to:
- Apply proactive strategies to promote patient engagement and retention of nonabstinent patients.
- Understand how nonabstinence can be managed clinically without judgment, as part of the chronic disease model of addiction.
- Recognize the role of harm reduction in fostering a more welcoming, nonjudgemental treatment environment.
Registration Rates
Rate Description | Rate |
ASAM Member | $29 |
Non-Member | $39 |
Associate Member | $19 |
Resident Member* | $19 |
Student Member* | $19 |
*Residents, Fellows-in-training, Interns, and Students must join ASAM to receive a discounted registration rate. Click here to become an ASAM member. National and Chapter membership dues apply. There is no charge for Students to become a Member, but verification of student status is required.
Membership Question? Call ASAM at 1.301.656.3920, email us, or view the ASAM website for more information.
Refunds & Cancellations
All ASAM eLearning Center refund requests must be made in writing to education@asam.org within 90 days of purchase. Those requesting refunds for courses that are in progress will receive partial refunds or e-Learning Center credit. Automatic full refunds will be made for any course with a live-course component that has been cancelled.
Registration Open: 05/26/2025 - 04/26/2028
User Access Closed: 05/26/2028
Course Instructions
- Click on the Contents tab to watch the on-demand recording.
- Click Complete Post Test to answer multiple choice questions. Participants will have 10 attempts to pass and must answer 2 out of 3 questions correctly.
- Click Complete Evaluation to provide valuable activity feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
- Click the button Claim Medical Credits in the box titled Claim Credits & Certificate. Choose the type of credit and click submit. Click the button View/Print Certificate to save or print your certificate. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the ASAM eLearning Center, clicking Dashboard, and clicking Transcript/Achievements.
- For Pharmacists ONLY: Complete the task entitled "Enter Pharmacist CPE Monitor Information (Pharmacists Only)". Pharmacists must claim credit and provide their eProfile ID and Birthdate via the Pharmacist CPE Monitor Information survey within 30 days of completing the activity. ASAM will not report CPE Credits claimed 30+ days after activity completion to ACPE. ASAM will not report CPE Credits without accurate and complete information. Courses offering CPE Credit will indicate the amount of credit available for pharmacists on the Credits & Disclosure Tab.
Need Assistance?
For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please check the FAQ page or e-mail Education@ASAM.org
ASAM is proud to offer Essential Accessibility to ensure our website is accessible and functional for all our learners while providing free assistive technology for people with the widest possible range of abilities.

Brian Hurley, MD, MBA, FAPA, DFASAM
Medical Director for Substance Abuse Prevention and Control
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
Brian Hurley, MD, MBA, DFASAM, FAPA is an addiction physician and serves as the President of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He is the Medical Director Director of Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control. He is a Volunteer Assistant Clinical Professor of Addiction Medicine at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Department of Family Medicine. Brian has led numerous grant funded projects expanding addiction medication access funded by the Sierra Health Foundation focused on programs operating across Los Angeles County and is the program lead for LA County’s Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration’s first Harm Reduction grant award and the Centers for Disease Control Overdose to Action Local grant award to Los Angeles County's Department of Public Health. Additionally, he is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers, and provides training in Motivational Interviewing across the United States. Brian completed the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Eman Gibson, LCSW, LCADC
Chief Clinical Officer
Integrity, Inc.
Eman Gibson serves as the Chief Clinical Officer of Integrity House, a non-profit organization that provides a full range of addiction treatment & mental health services. Offering 25 programs throughout New Jersey, Integrity House offers a variety of treatment models including a therapeutic community, a CCBHC, harm reduction center, street-based outreach & treatment, corrections-based treatment, and supportive housing. Eman began her career in the behavioral health field in 2010 supporting children & families as a mobile response crisis worker in Passaic County, NJ. Eman joined Integrity House in 2012 where she has served in a variety of direct service,management,& leadership positions including treatment, technology, quality assurance, etc. As the Chief Clinical Officer, Eman is responsible for the success of all treatment programs & ensuring positive client outcomes, strategic efforts,& stakeholder collaboration.Eman led several SAMHSA funded programs including the Medication Assisted Treatment -Prescription Drug & Opioid Addiction (MAT-PDOA) program, and most recently a SAMHSA funded residential program for pregnant & postpartum women at Integrity House. Outside of her work at Integrity, Eman is a surveyor for CARF. Eman is a co-author of the 4th edition ASAM criteria, specifically the residential standards. Eman also serves as Treasurer for the NJ chapter of ASAM (NJSAM) Board of Directors and is an at-large board member with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.Eman is able to conduct advocacy on a State and National level for individuals with behavioral health needs, and personally impact best practice guidelines. Eman earned her Master in Social Work from Columbia University and her Master of Business Administration from Fitchburg State University. She is a NJ Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC).
No relevant financial disclosures.

Kelly Ramsey, MD, MPH, MA, FACP, DFASAM
Addiction Medicine Physician and Addiction Medicine/Harm Reduction Consultant
Kelly S. Ramsey Consulting, LLC
Kelly S. Ramsey, MD, MPH, MA, FACP, DFASAM is a board certified internal medicine and addiction medicine physician who has treated substance use disorder since 2004. She has focused her career on providing care for people who use drugs, treating HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), and substance use disorder. She has worked in an opioid treatment program (OTP) and federally qualified health center (FQHC) settings. Dr. Ramsey previously worked as the Chief of Medical Services at the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), in a policy, regulatory, and clinical role.
Dr. Ramsey currently works as an Addiction Medicine Physician and Addiction Medicine and Harm Reduction Consultant for Kelly S. Ramsey Consulting, LLC, as well as providing low threshold clinical care and clinical supervision in addiction medicine in two drug user health hubs in New York.
Dr. Ramsey currently serves as Region I Director, representing NYS, on the national American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Board of Directors.
Accreditation & Credit Designation Statements
Joint Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, the American Society of Addiction Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The American Society of Addiction Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses
This activity awards 1.25 Nursing contact hours.

PAs
ASAM has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1.25 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.25 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until 05/06/2028. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
Pharmacists
This activity will offer 1.25 pharmacy contact hours (.125 CEUs). Pharmacists will be asked to provide identifying information (e-Profile ID and DOB in MMDD format) in order to receive credit and allow reporting to CPE Monitor. (UAN: JA0000141-0000-25-021-H01)
Note for pharmacists: Not all courses offer CPE Credit. For courses that do offer CPE Credit, pharmacists must claim credit and provide their eProfile ID and Birthdate via the Pharmacist CPE Monitor Information survey within 30 days of completing the activity.
ASAM will not report CPE Credits claimed 30+ days after activity completion to ACPE. ASAM will not report CPE Credits without accurate and complete information.
Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, ASAM is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1.25 general continuing education credits.
IPCE Credit
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.25 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
California Association for Drug/Alcohol Educators (CAADE)
This educational program is approved by CAADE: #CP40 999 1225.
California Association of DUI Treatment Centers (CADTP)
This educational program is approved by CADTP: #205.
California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP)
This educational program is approved by CCAPP: #OS-20-330-1224.
Other Professions - Continuing Education Credits (CEUs)
Upon completion of the activity and online evaluation, all other participants may request a certificate of participation. Participants may submit this certificate of participation to their professional organization/institute as documentation for completing this accredited continuing activity.
Maintenance of Certification (MOC) or Continuing Certification Programs (CCP)
This activity is designed to meet the requirements for MOC/CCP for several primary physician boards and for state licensing CME requirements. MOC Credit is only reported and designated for ABA, ABIM, ABP and ABS. By completing the online credit claim and evaluation, the learner permits ASAM to report credits to the appropriate Board. Learn more.
American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA)
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.25 Medical Knowledge MOC points and patient safety MOC credit in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA)
This activity offers up to 1.25 CME credits, of which 1.25 credits contribute the patient safety CME component of the American Board of Anesthesiology’s redesigned Maintenance of Certification in AnesthesiologyTM (MOCA®) program, known as MOCA 2.0®. Please consult the ABA website, www.theABA.org, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements.
Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology® and MOCA® are registered certification marks of the American Board of Anesthesiology®
American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.25 Medical Knowledge MOC points and patient safety MOC credit in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
American Board of Pediatrics (ABP)
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 1.25 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.
American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM)
This activity has been designed to satisfy the Lifelong Professional Development requirements of The American Board of Preventive Medicine’s Continuing Certification (CCP) requirements. These credits are not reported directly to ABPM. Please save your certificate for your records.
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)
This activity has been designed to satisfy the CME requirements of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology’s Continuing Certification (CC) requirements. These credits are not reported directly to ABPN. Please save your certificate for your records.
American Board of Surgery (ABS)
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirement of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada will recognize activities registered for CME for MOC as meeting the requirements for Royal College MOC Program Section 3 (Self-Assessment Programs) credits. Visit CME that Counts for Royal College MOC for more information.
Disclosure Information
In accordance with the disclosure policies of ASAM and Joint Accreditation, the effort is made to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all accredited continuing education activities. These policies include identifying and mitigating all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those involved in the creation and dissemination of accredited continuing education. Click here to view the full disclosure listing.
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