ABPM Addiction Medicine study guide
ABPM Addiction Medicine · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Addiction Medicine is a subspecialty certification offered by the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM), an ABMS member board. Per the ABPM, the subspecialty is concerned with the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of persons with the disease of addiction, of those with substance-related health conditions, and of people who show unhealthy use of substances including nicotine, alcohol, prescription medications and other licit and illicit drugs; physicians in this subspecialty also help family members whose health and functioning are affected by a loved one's substance use or addiction. The ABPM Addiction Medicine study guide has 4 sections and about 1,121 words.
01Prevention, Evaluation, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery of Addiction
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing condition with genetic, neurobiologic, developmental, and environmental contributors. The candidate must be fluent in the DSM-5 substance use disorder (SUD) framework: a single disorder per substance, graded mild (2–3 criteria), moderate (4–5), or severe (6+), replacing the old abuse/dependence split.
325 words, about 2 min02Care of Persons with Substance-Related Health Conditions
Candidates must recognize organ-system injury tied to specific substances: alcohol (hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, Wernicke encephalopathy, cerebellar degeneration); opioids (respiratory depression, overdose, constipation, infectious complications from injection); stimulants (hypertension, arrhythmia, stroke, myocardial infarction, psychosis); and injection-related infections (endocarditis, skin abscess, HIV, hepatitis C). Withdrawal is a medical condition with defined timelines.
262 words, about 1 min03Care of People Who Show Unhealthy Substance Use
Unhealthy use spans risky use, harmful use, and SUD. Screening and brief intervention (SBI) is the core primary-care skill: ask, assess, advise, assist, arrange.
258 words, about 1 min04Support of Family Members Affected by a Loved One's Substance Use
Substance use disorders affect family members' mental and physical health: increased anxiety, depression, caregiving burden, financial strain, and children's developmental risk. The candidate should assess the family system, not just the identified patient, and recognize that family involvement improves engagement and outcomes.
276 words, about 1 min