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Monday, Oct. 5, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: SAMHSA Office of Communications (301)443-8956

$23.7 MILLION IN GRANTS AWARDED TO EXPAND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT IN 22 STATES

HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced $23.7 million in targeted capacity expansion grants to help fill gaps in treatment for emerging substance abuse problems in 22 states. The 41 grant award recipients include municipal, county, state, and tribal government substance abuse programs.

The three-year treatment expansion grants were awarded by HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These grants are designed to address treatment needs for emerging substance abuse problems specific to a city, county, state or region.

"These grants recognize the fact that substance abuse problems begin in our local communities," said Secretary Shalala." Local substance abuse programs literally are on the front line in combating substance abuse outbreaks. These grants are designed to give these programs flexibility and enhance their ability to rapidly respond in meeting emerging intervention and treatment needs."

SAMHSA Administrator Nelba Chavez, Ph.D., said, "Study after study has shown that alcohol and drug treatment programs produce results--long lasting and enduring benefits for people in need of help. These grants will help communities to strengthen their treatment capabilities and provide help to those in need quickly."

SAMHSA will evaluate the effectiveness of grantees' targeted capacity expansion initiatives and will provide grantees with necessary technical assistance to ensure continuation of service at the end of the grant cycle. The grants will be administered by SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., incoming director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, said, "This initiative responds to the desires of mayors, county officials and community leaders to address new substance abuse trends at the earliest possible stages, and supports President Clinton's National Drug Control Strategy by cultivating a treatment system that is responsive to emerging trends."

Grantee programs will serve a wide range of clients, including young girls and women and racial and ethnic minority populations. The 41 grantees will provide services for substance abusing women and their children, clients participating in welfare reform programs, juvenile and adult criminal justice-referred offenders, dually diagnosed youth offenders, substance abusing physically and cognitively-challenged individuals, and hard-to-reach intravenous drug users.

A copy of the list of Targeted Capacity Expansion Grants FY 1998, can be obtained by contacting SAMHSA at the above number.

SAMHSA, a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment and mental health services in the United States. The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is a component of SAMHSA. Press releases issued by SAMHSA are available on the Internet via: www.samhsa.gov/.
Note: HHS press releases are available on the World Wide Web at: www.hhs.gov.