Editor’s note (2026): This article preserves a historical announcement from 2009, when Dr. Michael H. Lowenstein became one of the first U.S. physicians certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM). The field has changed substantially since then. In 2016, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) formally recognized Addiction Medicine as a subspecialty, with certification now offered through the American Board of Preventive Medicine. ABAM itself stopped certifying new applicants in 2015 and ceased operations in September 2025. We have kept the original announcement below for the historical record, with this note added for accuracy.
A new specialty board addresses a significant, unmet need
In July 2009, Michael H. Lowenstein, M.D. was among the first physicians in the United States certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine, then a new independent medical specialty board. ABAM had begun certifying addiction medicine physicians from across multiple specialties, including emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, preventive medicine, psychiatry, neurology, and surgery. Until that point, the only addiction related board certification available had been for psychiatrists.
The board set standards for physician education, assessed physicians’ knowledge, and required and tracked lifelong continuing education.
“We want addiction prevention, screening, intervention and treatment to become routine aspects of medical care, available virtually any place health care is provided,” said Kevin B. Kunz, M.D., then President of the American Board of Addiction Medicine.
Why the new board mattered
At the time, roughly one in five Americans entering the health care system had a substance use problem, yet there had never been a medical specialty board, drawn from all areas of medicine, dedicated to certifying addiction specialists. The new board gave patients a way to find specialized medical care for substance use disorders related to alcohol, tobacco, and other addicting drugs, including some prescription medications.
“Physicians are often at a loss for what to do about substance use and addiction issues, and may even misdiagnose the problem,” Dr. Kunz noted. “We hope to change this by creating a cadre of thousands of specialized physicians across medical specialties.”
The need was stark. Studies at the time showed that fewer than one in five physicians considered themselves adequately prepared to diagnose alcoholism or other drug use disorders. Separate courses in addiction medicine were rarely taught in medical school, and there were no addiction medicine residencies among the roughly 8,200 ACGME accredited residency programs then operating in the nation’s hospitals.
The science behind the change
The board launched at a time of increasing promise for addiction treatment. Research had added to the weight of evidence that addiction is a chronic disease of the brain, with unique vulnerabilities and pathology and a predictable course if not interrupted by effective treatment. An increasing number of medically based addiction treatments had become available, with more on the horizon.
“Years of scientific research have proven drug addiction is a brain disease caused by biological, environmental and developmental factors, a disease which can have far reaching medical consequences,” said Nora D. Volkow, M.D., Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Given the proper training, tools, and resources, physicians can be the first line of defense against substance abuse and addiction, identifying drug use early, preventing its escalation to abuse and addiction, and referring patients in need to treatment.”
The timing coincided with policy change as well. Legislation addressing insurance discrimination against people with addictions took effect in October 2009, requiring that private insurance coverage of addiction treatment, when provided, be offered on the same terms as other medical and surgical coverage.
About Michael H. Lowenstein, M.D.
A graduate of the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Dr. Lowenstein brought the knowledge and expertise central to treating patients with the Waismann Method® of rapid detox. In addition to his 2009 addiction medicine certification, he is board certified in anesthesiology and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pain Medicine, and he completed a fellowship in restorative and functional medicine.
As of 2026, Dr. Lowenstein serves as Owner of AAMOD (Anesthesia Assisted Medical Opioid Detoxification) and Medical Director of the Waismann Method, holding board certifications in anesthesiology, pain management, addiction medicine, and anti-aging and regenerative medicine, with more than 26 years of experience in medically supervised opioid detoxification.
His earlier roles included Co-Director of the Waismann Method, multidisciplinary chronic pain management at the Newport Beach Pain Institute, and Vice Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology, Director of Acute Pain Management Services, and Chairman of the Physician Well-Being Committee at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center.
Where addiction medicine certification stands today
For readers researching addiction medicine credentials now, the landscape is different from 2009. Addiction Medicine is an official ABMS subspecialty, recognized in 2016. Allopathic (M.D.) physicians are certified through the American Board of Preventive Medicine, while osteopathic (D.O.) physicians are certified through the American Osteopathic Association. Since June 2025, candidates must complete an ACGME accredited fellowship in addiction medicine to sit for the certifying exam. The American Board of Addiction Medicine, the body described in the 2009 announcement above, ceased operations on September 1, 2025, after issuing lifetime certificates to its active diplomates.
If you or a loved one is researching treatment, what matters most is that care is led by appropriately credentialed, experienced physicians in an accredited medical setting. To learn more about the medical team and treatment approach, visit the Waismann Method or contact us.
This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Portions of this page preserve a 2009 announcement for historical reference; see the editor’s note above for current information.
An educational resource from the Waismann Method®, Opioid Dependence Experts.
Clare Waismann is the founder of the Waismann Method®, a leading opioid detoxification program with nearly three decades of clinical experience. As a registered addiction specialist and certified counselor, she has dedicated her career to advancing humane, medically-based approaches to opioid dependence. Clare has been featured in major media outlets discussing addiction policy and patient care, and hosts the Waismann Method Podcast. All content on this site is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice.
