Addiction Studies Links

Listed below are some informative links to websites that deal with various issues regarding substance abuse. To follow a link, click on the logo above the site description.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) mission within the Nation's health system is to improve the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses. The site includes detailed information regarding SAMHSA's three Centers (Center for Mental Health Services, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, and Centefor Substance Abuse Treatment) that carry out the agency's mission of providing substance abuse and mental health services, as well as statistical information on substance abuse and available grants.

Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)
CSAP's mission is to provide national leadership in the Federal effort to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug problems. These problems are intrinsically linked to other serious national problems such as: crime, violence, rising health care costs, academic failure, HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, and low work productivity. CSAP connects people and resources to innovative ideas and strategies, and encourages efforts to reduce and eliminate alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug problems both in the United States and internationally. CSAP fosters the development of comprehensive, culturally appropriate prevention policies and systems that are based on scientifically defensible principles and target both individuals and the environments in which they live. CSAP participates in the development of new knowledge about prevention, disseminates it in a "user friendly" manner, and encourages its application in settings where it is likely to prevent or reduce substance abuse.

The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) works cooperatively across the private and public treatment spectrum to identify, develop, and support policies, approaches, and programs that enhance and expand treatment services for individuals who abuse alcohol and other drugs and that address individuals' addiction-related problems. CSAT's initiatives are based on research findings to support the nation's treatment effort to provide specific services, evaluate treatment effectiveness, and utilize evaluation results to enhance treatment and recovery approaches. CSAT has established a Comprehensive Treatment Recovery Continuum, which includes a wide array of interventions and supports. The continuum is designed to:

• Attract and retain individuals in treatment and recovery.
• Reduce alcohol and drug use.
• Reduce rates of relapse.
• Improve physical health and psychological wellness.
• Improve family, social, and economic functioning.
• Reduce crime, unemployment, and other socioeconomic costs of addiction.

The National Center on Substance Abuse's (CASA) missions are to: inform Americans of the economic and social costs of substance abuse and its impact on their lives; assess what works in prevention, treatment, and law enforcement; encourage every individual and institution to take responsibility to combat substance abuse and addiction; provide those on the front lines with tools they need to succeed; and remove the stigma of substance abuse and replace shame and despair with hope.

The premise on which the Partnership was based is that this nation's drug problem was driven by societal attitudes that accept drugs and the perception that drugs were not dangerous. Based on the belief that changing attitudes is the key to changing behavior, the Partnership's mission is to reduce demand for illegal drugs by changing public attitudes about drugs -- to "denormalize" drug use, by making use less glamorous and less acceptable. The site includes information to help parents.

The mission of the National Center for the Applicaton of Prevention Technologies Border (CAPT) network is to bring research to practice. The body of knowledge and experience learned by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) provides clear and convincing evidence that prevention of substance abuse works. The National CAPT Network is designed to work with States and organizations to apply science-based prevention technologies that work. To the fullest extent which resources allow, each CAPT is charged with providing technical assistance and training throughout its region.

Heralding itself as being the world's largest resource for current information and materials concerning alcohol and substance abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment, the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) includes publications, catalogs, resources on drug testing, funding opportunities, research and statistical articles, and an impressive database.

The Gulf Coast Addiction Technology Transfer Center (GCATTC) is one of 14 regional University Centers in the United States. The center works through multiple consortia of educational institutions and other agencies to promote incorporation of research into addictions curricula and provides technical assistance and consultation for state agencies and community organizations in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi to facilitate workforce development and implementation of evidence-based practices.