Blogs
Three African American Leaders Making an Impact on Mental Health in the Community
By: Larke N. Huang, Ph.D., Director, SAMHSA Office of Behavioral Health Equity and Roslyn Holliday-Moore, M.S., Public Health Analyst, SAMHSA Office of Behavioral Health Equity …
SAMHSA Urges Focus on Synergistic Epidemics of Substance Use Disorder, HIV, and Viral Hepatitis
Summary: SAMHSA chief urges grantees and partners to address infectious diseases as integral part of the response to the substance use disorders epidemic. In a …
Recovery In An Anxious Culture
How to Recover from Substance Abuse in an Anxious Culture In my last blog entry, I mentioned that we would be exploring the “legs” of …
Suicide—and a Reflection on Our Changing American Society
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data on the ten leading causes of death in the United States recently. Tragically, suicide—too often …
Struggling with Addiction? Tips on Finding Quality Treatment
It can be overwhelming and confusing to know where to start if you need to find treatment for an alcohol or drug addiction. Addiction touches …
SAMHSA Launches the 2019 Communities Talk: Town Hall Meetings to Prevent Underage Drinking
Alcohol continues to be the most widely used substance of abuse among America’s youth. Recognizing the power of community to raise awareness of the prevalence …
New Year’s Resolution 2019: Tobacco-Free Recovery
By: Doug Tipperman, MSW, Tobacco Policy Liaison, SAMHSA Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs Quitting smoking is a resolution many smokers set for themselves. It’s …
Successes, Challenges, Opportunities: World AIDS Day 2018
By: Tammy R. Beckham, DVM, PhD, Acting Director, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Cross post from …
Addressing Opioid Use Disorder with Mothers-to-Be
Treatment for opioid use disorder is a process that should be carefully managed by a patient and their health care team. This is especially true …
Honoring Culture: A Public Health Approach
By: Ramon Bonzon, M.P.H., Public Health Advisor, Targeted Populations Branch, SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment November is National Native American Heritage Month. During this …
Supporting Those Who Serve
By: Cicely K. Burrows-McElwain, LSCW-C, Military and Veteran Affairs Liasion, SAMHSA’s Office of Policy, Planning and Development In or out of uniform, many service members …
SAMHSA Joins with Entertainers Torrey and Liberty DeVitto to Emphasize the Dangers of Underage Drinking and Substance Use
By: Robert M. Vincent, Public Health Analyst, SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention During adolescence, young people have new life experiences and enjoy greater freedom …
Safely Dispose of Prescription Drugs – National Prescription Take Back Day 2018
By: Frances M. Harding, Director, SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) show that …
New Tool Offers Hope to People Experiencing Early Serious Mental Illness and their Families
One of the most important advances in treating serious mental illness in recent years is improving care for people experiencing a first onset of serious …
Using Data to Improve Effective Responses to Individuals in Crisis
In a previous blog post, I wrote about crisis intervention teams and their effectiveness in improving outcomes for people experiencing a crisis due to a mental …
From a Physician Assistant in Fairbanks to a Vending Machine in Interior Alaska: Witnessing Tribal Health Solutions Firsthand
By: Eric D. Hargan, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Cross posted from the HHS Blog Summary: After visiting tribal communities in …
Let’s Help our Youth Change the Way They Look at Mental Health
Mental health is central to everyone’s well-being, particularly adolescents, teens, and young adults. Our youth are active in their communities where they initiate growth, lead …
For Beating the Opioid Crisis, America has Better Weapons than Fentanyl Test Strips
The opioids crisis is affecting communities across the nation. The disease of opioid use disorder does not discriminate. As the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health …
Why Should Providers Ask this Critical Question…?
When individuals enter the field of healthcare, they are driven by a passion to assist others in achieving their best state of wellness. No matter …
Preventing Suicide in Tribal Communities—and Beyond
Each September 10, the International Association for Suicide Prevention sponsors World Suicide Prevention Day. Here in the United States, overall suicide rates have increased significantly …
Recovery Month: A Time of Celebration and Hope
September is National Recovery Month. We celebrate the millions of Americans who are living their lives in recovery from mental and substance use disorders and …
Overdose is a Cry for Help
Earlier this month there was news that over 90 people overdosed on synthetic marijuana laced with the powerful opioid fentanyl at a park in New …
This School Year, Let’s Erase Bullying
As children across the country are starting their school years, their parents and guardians are taking steps to make sure they’re equipped with the needed …
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: Closing the Treatment Gap
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Each year, SAMHSA joins the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health to promote …