The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is an agency of the United States federal government. It is charged with improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses. SAMHSA is a branch of the Health and Human Services Department, and its director (administrator) reports directly to the Health and Human Services Secretary. SAMHSA's headquarters building is located in Rockville, Maryland.

History

It was founded in 1992 as part of a reorganization of the Federal administration of mental health services; the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration (ADAMHA) was abolished and its service components were transferred to the newly-organized SAMSHA. SAMHSA provides a number of services, including block grants to agencies throughout America, publicity campaigns, and data analysis for system reform, policy, and programs.

Charles Curie was SAMHSA's director until his resignation in May 2006. In December 2006 Terry Cline was appointed as SAMHSA's director. Dr. Cline served through August 2008. Rear Admiral Eric Broderick has been acting director since Dr. Cline's departure, and previously served in that role between Dr. Curie and Dr. Cline.

Organization

SAMHSA consists of three centers and five offices. They are:

• Office of the Administrator (OA)
• Office of Policy, Planning and Budget (OPPB)
• Office of Program Services (OPS)
• Office of Applied Studies (OAS)
• Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)
• Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)
• Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)

Their budget for the Fiscal Year 2008 was about $3.2 billion. It was re-authorized for 2009.

Controversy

In February 2004, the administration was accused of requiring the name change of an Oregon mental health conference from "Suicide Prevention Among Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Individuals" to "Suicide Prevention in Vulnerable Populations."

In 2002, President George W. Bush established the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. The resulting report was intended to provide the foundation for the federal government's Mental Health Services programs. There are many critics of this report "Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America".

Notes

1. "Agency Biographies: Acting Administrator of SAMHSA" Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
2. "Dr. Broderick Tapped for Interim Post" SAMHSA News (September/October 2006) 14(5): p. 2
3. Joe Crea, Feb 25, 2005. "Suicide prevention workshop retains ‘gay’ title", Washington Blade.
4. February 26, 2005. "Northwest: Oregon: Workshop's Original Title Restored", The New York Times.
5. For the opposition to this report see: New Freedom Commission on Mental Health#Opposition.

References

• http://www.nih.gov/about/almanac/archive/1998/organization/nimh/history.html
• http://www.samhsa.gov/Budget/FY2008/SAMHSA08CongrJust.pdf
• http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid03200.asp

External links

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• National Institute of Mental Health : Important Events in NIMH History
• Federal agency caught in uproar over workshop title

See also

• Addiction recovery groups
• Self-help groups for mental health
• Treatment Improvement Protocols
• United States Department of Health and Human Services