ASAM Level 3.1
Clinically Managed Low-Intensity Residential Treatment — Richmond’s first licensed program at this level of care.
What is ASAM 3.1?
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Patient Placement Criteria provides a nationally recognized framework for determining the appropriate level of care for individuals with substance use disorders. ASAM Level 3.1 — Clinically Managed Low-Intensity Residential — is a 24-hour residential treatment level that provides structured support and clinical services in a residential setting, without the intensive medical monitoring required at higher ASAM levels.
ASAM 3.1 is designed for adults who:
- Have a substance use disorder requiring more support than outpatient treatment can provide
- Need a structured residential environment to achieve stability
- Do not require 24-hour medical or nursing care
- Would benefit from peer community integration alongside clinical services
At ASAM 3.1, residents live in a residential setting, participate in daily clinical programming, and receive individualized treatment planning with a team of licensed clinical and peer support professionals.
At RCRS, ASAM 3.1 is part of a full continuum that also includes ASAM 2.5 (PHP day treatment) and ASAM 2.1 (IOP), allowing residents to step down through clinically appropriate levels of care.
Richmond’s First Licensed ASAM 3.1 Program
River City Residential Services is proud to be the first program in Richmond, Virginia to receive licensure at the ASAM 3.1 level. This achievement reflects our commitment to evidence-based, clinically rigorous residential care that meets nationally recognized standards.
Being Virginia-licensed at the ASAM 3.1 level means that our program has been reviewed and approved by state regulators to deliver residential substance use disorder treatment that meets specific clinical, staffing, and programmatic standards. For residents and referral sources, this licensure provides assurance that RCRS delivers care aligned with the best practices in addiction medicine.
What ASAM 3.1 Means for Residents
Choosing an ASAM 3.1 program means choosing structured residential care with clinical depth.
Residents live in a structured residential setting with staff available around the clock.
Licensed clinical staff oversee individualized service plans, group programming, and resident progress.
A daily schedule of therapeutic activities, groups, life skills, and community time supports recovery.
Residents support one another in a peer-integrated environment that reinforces recovery values.
Who Benefits from ASAM 3.1?
ASAM 3.1 is most appropriate for individuals who have been assessed using the ASAM criteria and who meet indicators across multiple dimensions, including:
- Acute intoxication & withdrawal potential: Manageable withdrawal that does not require 24-hour medical or nursing supervision
- Biomedical conditions: No conditions requiring intensive medical management
- Emotional/behavioral conditions: Emotional and behavioral symptoms that can be managed in a residential, non-hospital setting
- Readiness to change: Ambivalence or limited engagement that benefits from the structured accountability of residential care
- Relapse potential: High risk of relapse that requires 24-hour structure and support
- Recovery environment: Living environment that is not conducive to recovery, making residential placement necessary
Our clinical team conducts thorough intake assessments to confirm ASAM 3.1 appropriateness for each prospective resident.
How RCRS Delivers ASAM 3.1 Services
ASAM 3.1 services at RCRS are delivered across four DBHDS-licensed residential facilities in the greater Richmond area — two men’s homes and two women’s homes, with eight residential beds at each location — through a peer-integrated professional treatment model that includes:
- Daily clinical programming — individual and group therapy
- Individualized Service Plans (ISP) developed with each resident
- Certified peer recovery specialist support
- Relapse prevention curriculum
- Life skills assistance and independent living support
- Care coordination and discharge planning from day one
- Co-occurring mental health support