Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a U.S. government agency established by Congress to address issues surrounding substance abuse and mental health. It is composed of four specialized centers: the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), and the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ). Each center has distinct responsibilities, ranging from promoting mental health to providing community-based substance abuse treatment and conducting critical research.
SAMHSA's mission is to minimize the harm caused by substance abuse while supporting recovery for individuals facing addiction and mental health challenges. The agency operates under a strategic framework that includes eight key initiatives, such as prevention, trauma-informed care, support for military families, and improving public awareness about mental health and substance abuse issues.
In November 2022, SAMHSA introduced an Interim Strategic Plan, reinforcing its core objectives and expanding its focus to include overdose prevention, enhanced suicide crisis care, and the integration of behavioral and physical health care. Through these efforts, SAMHSA aims to foster resilience in individuals and communities while addressing the pressing needs within the realm of behavioral health.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Definition: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the US Department of Health and Human Services, provides services that address addiction, substance abuse prevention, and mental health. The agency is guided by a series of eight strategic initiatives.
Date: Established in 1992
Background
Established by the US Congress, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) consists of four centers tasked with helping to guide health care practitioners on issues of substance abuse, addiction, and mental illness. SAMHSA comprises the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), and Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ).
CMHS is charged with promoting mental health and preventing mental illness; CSAP is charged with the prevention of addiction problems related to alcohol, drugs, and smoking; and CSAT provides for substance abuse treatment services through community-based services and nationwide referrals.
The fourth center, CBHSQ, handles all issues dealing with research, including disseminating information on evidenced-based practices in the field of behavioral health. This center was formerly known as the Office of Applied Studies.
Mission and Goals
SAMHSA’s primary mission is to reduce the harm of substance abuse, especially as it intersects with mental illness. As part of this mission, SAMHSA works to facilitate recovery and build recovery capital for people who are at risk for addiction or mental illness. To fulfill this mission, SAMHSA, as outlined in its 2011–2014 Strategic Plan, developed a number of strategic initiatives to guide the agency’s work. The eight strategic initiatives also provide a mechanism that determines how resources should be used to best deal with the issues of addiction and mental illness. The eight strategic initiatives are delineated and discussed here.
1. Prevention of substance abuse and mental illness. This initiative, which reiterates the primary mission of SAMHSA, helps to focus the utilization of resources in this key area.
2. Trauma and justice. This initiative deals with the effects of trauma on the victim, as trauma can contribute to mental illness and substance abuse issues. By utilizing better screening and treatment techniques with trauma victims, this initiative could significantly decrease the incidence of these co-occurring disorders. Additionally, this initiative involves meeting the mental health and treatment needs of people who are involved with the criminal justice system.
3. Military families. This initiative focuses on members of the military and their families. SAMHSA partners with the US Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve access to and types of behavioral health care.
4. Recovery support. This initiative acknowledges that while screening, prevention, and treatment for mental health and addiction problems have improved, recovery support services are lacking. It indicates that health, home (permanent housing), purpose (employment or education), and community (peer support) are essential to support recovery.
5. Health reform. Based on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, this initiative calls for an improvement in the nation’s behavioral health care and access to that care. As part of this initiative, SAMHSA works to improve treatment for persons who, for example, are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus or who have acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
6. Health information technology. This initiative focuses on the use of electronic health records and health information technology to improve the behavioral health care of those in need. The hope is that technology will allow better interaction between primary care practitioners and behavioral-health-care practitioners.
7. Data, outcomes, and quality. This initiative calls for improved tracking of data and better use of outcomes to improve the quality of behavioral health care.
8. Public awareness and support. This initiative mandates the provision of information on mental health and substance abuse disorders with the intention of preventing discrimination and improving attitudes toward those with behavioral health issues.
These eight initiatives provide the framework for SAMHSA to ensure that its mission is fulfilled and that its resources are expended in the areas of greatest need.
In November 2022, SAMHSA outlined an Interim Strategic Plan designed to last for four years. The plan maintained the core elements of the 2011–2014 plan, but added an emphasis on five new elements. These include preventing overdose; enhancing access to suicide prevention and crisis care; promoting resilience and emotional health for children, youth, and families; integrating behavioral and physical health care; and strengthening the behavioral health workforce.
Bibliography
Brounstein, P. J., S. E. Gardner, and T. Backer. “Research to Practice: Efforts to Bring Effective Prevention to Every Community.” Journal of Primary Prevention 27.1 (2006): 91–109. Print.
Drake, R. E., and G. R. Bond. “Implementing Integrated Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.” Journal of Dual Diagnosis 6 (2010): 251–62. Print.
Herr, E. C. M., M. J. English, and N. B. Brown. “Translating Mental Health Services Research into Practice: A Perspective from Staff at the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.” Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly 4.3 (2003): 241–53. Print.
Mignon, Sylvia I. Substance Abuse Treatment: Options, Challenges, and Effectiveness. New York: Springer, 2015. Print.
Power, A. K. “Transforming the Nation’s Health: Next Steps in Mental Health Promotion.” American Journal of Health 100 (2010): 2343–46. Print.
"Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Interim Strategic Plan ." Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, November 2022, www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/samhsa-interim-strategic-plan.pdf. Accessed 1 Dec. 2022.