The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
Congress established the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in 1992 to make substance use and mental disorder information, services, and research more accessible. SAMHSA is a public agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for behavioral health are important parts of the health service systems for the community. The services work to improve our health and minimize costs to individuals, families, businesses, and governments. However, people suffering from either substance use and mental disorders, or both, because of their illness are often excluded from the current health care system and instead have to rely on "public safety net" programs. Last year alone, close to 20 million people in need of substance abuse treatment did not receive it. Further, an estimated 11.8 million people reported an unmet need for mental health care. The gap in service to this population unnecessarily jeopardizes the health and wellness of people and causes a ripple effect in costs to American communities.
Vision
SAMHSA provides leadership and devotes its resources, including programs, policies, information and data, contracts and grants, to help the United States act on the knowledge that:
- Behavioral Health is essential to health
- Prevention works
- Treatment is effective
- People recover from mental and substance use disorders
Mission
It is SAMHSA's mission to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
Newsroom
Get SAMHSA-related press releases and news stories from 1999 to the present.
Chat with a professional
