Deep Dive: ASAM-Based Placement Assessment Part II: Risk Ranking Considerations and Level of Care- Turning Info into Outcomes

Once information has been gathered, it is the responsibility of the clinician to synthesize the information, make connections across dimensions, and provide level of care and treatment recommendations. This presentation provides a practical, ASAM-based framework for translating comprehensive placement assessment data into defensible risk ratings and clinically appropriate levels of care. It reviews the six ASAM dimensions, emphasizing how substance use patterns, biomedical conditions, emotional/behavioral health, readiness to change, continued use potential, and recovery environment interact to inform risk ratings. Through definitions, decision rules, and case examples, the training illustrates how to justify ratings, weigh dimensions, and apply key exceptions. The presentation also outlines residential and outpatient levels of care, principles of least restrictive treatment, and importance of shared decision-making. Overall, it equips clinicians to convert interview information into consistent, client-centered placement decisions that align clinical need, client preference, and system navigation considerations.

At the conclusion of this training, participants will be able to:

Explain the role of Shared Decision Making in placement decisions and client-centered care planning.

Describe how information from each dimension informs risk ratings and supports clinical justification.

Apply collected assessment information to determine risk ratings and identify the most clinically appropriate level of care to meet client needs.