Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

From Drug Rehab Wiki

SAMHSA was established as a service agency in 1992 by an Act of Congress, although its predecessors existed in the Public Health System since 1930. SAMHSA’s vision is “A life in the community for everyone.” The agency bases this vision on the principle that people at risk for or with mental illnesses or substance abuse disorder should have the opportunity to have a fulfilling and healthy life, including the opportunity to hold a job, have a home, and meaningful relationships with family and friends. In order to help make this vision a reality, SAMHSA promotes programs and services that improve outcomes in those areas.

SAMHSA’s Mission

Toward the outcome of making its vision a reality, SAMHSA’s mission is “Building resilience and facilitating recovery.” The agency administers competitive and block/formula grant programs, data collection, evaluation and technical assistance. Programs are carried out by the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), and the Office of Applied Studies (OAS).

In its strategic plan for fiscal years (FY) 2006-2011, SAMHSA cites statistics on mental health and substance abuse that are quite startling. Mental illnesses rank number one among illnesses causing disability in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe (World Health Organization, 2001). The National Co-morbidity Study (2005) showed that more than two-thirds (67.1 percent) of persons ages 18-55 with a diagnosable mental disorder did not seek treatment.

According to the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), of an estimated 23.48 million (9.8 percent of the total population) persons aged 12 and older needing treatment for an illicit drug use or alcohol problem, only an estimated 2.33 million (1.0 percent of total population and 9.9 percent of people who needed treatment) actually received treatment as a specialty facility. This left 21.15 million persons (8.8 percent of total population) who needed treatment at a specialty facility – but didn’t get it (OAS, 2005).

SAMHSA’s programs and resources are designed to promote expansion of capacity and infrastructure improvements to address these gaps in prevention and treatment.

SAMHSA’s Strategic Goals

The agency has three strategic goals: Accountability, Capability, and Effectiveness.

Accountability includes measuring and tracking performance:

• Tracking national trends – major SAMHSA surveys, including the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), and to report timely and reliable data

• Establishing measurement and reporting systems

• Achieving excellence in management practices

Capability includes increasing service availability:

• Supporting needs assessment, planning and system improvements

• Promoting appropriate outreach, assessment, and referral

• Supporting service expansion

• Promoting consumer choice

Effectiveness includes improving service quality:

• Improving client outcomes in SAMHSA programs

• Identifying and promoting evidence-based approaches

• Supporting recruitment, education and retention of workforce

Strategic Plan

For FY 2006-2011, SAMHSA’s strategic plan includes the following priority areas:

• Co-occurring Disorders

• Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity

• Seclusion and Restraint

• Strategic Prevention Framework

• Children and Families

• Mental Health System Transformation

• Disaster Response

• Homelessness

• Older Adults

• HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis

• Criminal and Juvenile Justice

• Suicide Prevention (added in 2006)

• Workforce Development (added in 2006)

Data Strategy

SAMHSA has formulated a data strategy (FY 2007-2011) for moving toward the integration of mental health and substance abuse data into interoperable electronic health records and data systems. To achieve this strategy, SAMHSA has identified three goals:

• Goal 1 – Provide periodic national information on the incidence and prevalence of substance abuse and mental illness; associated characteristics of individuals and communities; specialty/non-specialty treatment and prevention providers and services; payers and financing of such services.

• Goal 2 – Provide effective performance information from block/formula and discretionary grant programs through development and implementation of SAMHSA-wide performance measures and evaluations.

• Goal 3 – Promote usage of interoperable electronic health records and information technology to improve safety and quality of care, increase administrative efficiency, and encourage family/consumer participation in their health care.

SAMHSA Publications

SAMHSA publications are available through two clearinghouses:

• SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information http://ncadi.samhsa.gov

• SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

Consumers can also call SAMHSA at 1-877-SAMHSA-7.

SAMHSA Treatment Locators

SAMHSA provides a Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator, accessible through http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov. The searchable directory includes more than 11,000 addiction treatment programs, including residential treatment centers, outpatient treatment programs, and hospital inpatient programs for drug addiction and alcoholism. Listings include treatment programs for cocaine, marijuana and heroin addiction, as well as alcohol/drug treatment programs for adults and adolescents.

SAMHSA also provides a Mental Health Services Locator in conjunction with the Center for Mental Health Services, operated as part of the SAMHSA Health Information Network at http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/. Using the drop-down locator, individuals can find comprehensive information about mental health services and resources.

SAMHSA Helplines

To get help finding nearby treatment services, call SAMHSA’s 24-hour Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357).

SAMHSA also provides the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Or, visit the website at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

SAMHSA Web Resources

SAMHSA’s website at http://www.samhsa.gov/index.aspx offers a wealth of news, features, information on programs and campaigns, statistics, a newsletter and much more. Browse by topic or use the search engine. Sign up for e-mail alerts. There’s also a help section, FAQs and links to other agencies.

For example, clicking on “I Need Help With … A Substance Abuse Problem” links to a page with links to find treatment for substance abuse (Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator, Buprenorphine Physician and Treatment Program Locator, and Opioid Treatment Program Directory), Treatment Referral Hotline and FAQs, Find Mental Health Services and Treatment (Mental Health Services Locator), and Additional Resources (Substance Abuse, Mental Health, and Medication Assisted Treatment Resources). --Suzannekane 01:33, 23 October 2009 (UTC)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

From Drug Rehab Wiki

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