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SAMHSA Access to Recovery (ATR) Grants

2004 ATR Factsheet

BACKGROUND:   President Bush announced in his 2003 State of the Union Address a new substance abuse treatment initiative, Access to Recovery.  This new initiative will provide people seeking drug and alcohol treatment with vouchers to pay for a range of appropriate community-based services.  Congress has appropriated $100 million in both the 2004 and 2005 budget for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to launch the initiative.  After a competitive grant process that reviewed applications from 44 states and 22 tribes and territories, funds were awarded to 14 states and one tribal organization: California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the California Rural Indian Health Board, to implement Access to Recovery.  The Administration’s commitment to expand clinical treatment and recovery support services to reach those in need extends beyond the immediate fiscal year, with its FY 2006 request to increase Access to Recovery’s appropriation to $150 million.

Too Many Americans Do Not Receive Help.  In 2004, 23.5 million people aged 12 or older needed treatment for an alcohol or illicit drug use problem.  An estimated 2.3 million of these people received treatment at a specialty facility.  The overwhelming majority, almost 95 percent of people with substance use problems who did not receive treatment did not recognize their problem.  Of the 21.1 million people who needed but did not receive treatment in 2004, an estimated 1.2 million reported that they felt they needed treatment for their problem.  Of the 1.2 million people who felt they needed treatment, 441,000 reported that they made an effort but were unable to get treatment, and 792,000 reported making not effort to get treatment.  To find help nearby – call 1-800-662-HELP or click on “Get Help for Substance Abuse Problems” at www.samhsa.gov. 

Addiction Treatment Works; Recovery is Real.  With treatment, even hard-to-reach populations reduce their illegal drug use by nearly half.  Further, addiction treatment reduces criminal activity by 80%.   Treatment markedly increases employment and decreases homelessness; results in substantially improved physical and mental health; and reduces risky sexual behaviors.  When tailored to the needs of the individual, addiction treatment is as effective as treatments for other illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.

ACCESS TO RECOVERY:  This new program will establish a Grantee-run voucher program for substance abuse clinical treatment and recovery support services built on the following three principles:

  • Consumer Choice.  The process of recovery is a personal one.  Achieving recovery can take many pathways: physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual.  With a voucher, people in need of addiction treatment and recovery support will be able to choose the programs and providers that will help them most.  Increased choice protects individuals and encourages quality.
  • Outcome Oriented.  Success will be measured by outcomes, principally abstinence from drugs and alcohol, and includes attainment of employment or enrollment in school, no involvement with the criminal justice system, stable housing, social support, access to care, and retention in services. 
  • Increased Capacity.The initial phase of Access to Recovery will expand clinical treatment and recovery support services each year and expand the array of services available including medical detoxification, inpatient and outpatient treatment modalities, residential services, peer support, relapse prevention, case management, and other recovery support services. 

HOW IT WILL WORK: The selected ATR Grantees have designed their approach and targeted efforts to areas of greatest need, areas with a high degree of readiness, and to specific populations, including adolescents.  Critically, Grantees are using the new funds to supplement, not supplant current funding and are building on existing programs, including SAMHSA's Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, for which the President has requested $1.776 billion in FY06 amount. The SAPT Block Grant, with its required State maintenance of effort, provides the basic national addiction treatment infrastructure

 

 

Last Update: 9/19/2007