The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has officially recognized Addiction Medicine as a subspecialty. The subspecialty will allow physicians certified by any of the 24 ABMS Member Boards to apply for the new certificate.

“Substance use and addiction are serious health problems of enormous proportion and impact in this country and on our society,” ABMS President and Chief Executive Officer, Lois Margaret Nora, MD, JD, MBA, said in a statement.

“By offering a certification in this important subspecialty we continue in our role to assure patients and their families that their physician meets the high standards of practice and clinical knowledge, and has completed an approved educational program in this important medical field.”

According to ABMS, an estimated 16 percent of the non-institutionalized U.S. population age 12 and over – more than 40 million Americans – meets medical criteria for addiction involving nicotine, alcohol or other drugs.

Few of those who need treatment receive evidence-based care, the group says. In 2014, 22.5 million people in the United States needed treatment for a substance use disorder involving alcohol or drugs other than nicotine. Of those, only 11.6 percent received any form of inpatient, residential, or outpatient treatment. ABMS notes that of those who do receive treatment, few receive evidence-based care.

The American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) sponsored the application allowing physicians certified by ABMS member boards to apply for the new certificate.

“Increasing the number of well trained and certified specialists in addiction medicine will significantly increase access to care for those in need of intervention and treatment,” said ABPM Board Chair Denece O. Kesler, MD, MPH. “The acknowledgement of this field as a subspecialty will have a significant impact in the ability of the healthcare community to address a disease with far reaching effects on patients, communities and society as a whole.”