The Future of SUD Intake: Moving from Manual Forms to AI-Driven ASAM Evaluations.

Substance use disorder (SUD) intake has long relied on paper forms, spreadsheets, and manual data entry—creating delays, inconsistencies, and compliance risk. As payers and regulators emphasize ASAM criteria and structured assessments, the gap between legacy processes and best practice is widening.

The Intaker™ represents a shift toward AI-driven, ASAM-aligned evaluations: structured intake, consistent placement logic, and documentation that supports both clinical quality and DHCS licensing expectations. By moving from manual forms to guided, technology-supported workflows, programs can reduce administrative burden and focus staff time on the therapeutic relationship.

This article explores the limitations of manual SUD intake, the role of ASAM in placement and documentation, and how tools like The Intaker™ can help organizations deliver more consistent, compliant, and efficient intake and evaluation processes.