SAMHSA Resources

Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTC)
The CSAT ATTC is a nationwide, multidisciplinary resource for the treatment field that draws upon the knowledge, experience, and latest work of recognized experts in the addictions field. Launched in 1993 by CSAT, the network is comprised of 13 independent regional centers and a national office. Although the sizes and areas of emphasis of the individual centers may vary, each is charged, as is the Network, with three key objectives:

  • Increase the knowledge and skills of addiction treatment practitioners from multiple disciplines by facilitating access to state-of-the-art research and education.
  • Heighten the awareness, knowledge, and skills of all professionals who have the opportunity to intervene in the lives of people with substance use disorders.
  • Foster regional and national alliances among practitioners, researchers, policymakers, funders, and consumers to support and implement best treatment practices.

In addition, 5 Centers of Excellence are housed within 3 of the 13 regional ATTCs. Web links and full contact information for all of these, as well as additional information regarding the ATTC program, is available from the National Office website at http://www.nattc.org.

Co-Occurring Center for Excellence (COCE)
As part of a mandate from the Report to Congress, SAMHSA created the Co-Occurring Center for Excellence (COCE) as a vital link between the agency and States, communities, and providers. COCE provides the technical, informational, and training resources needed for the dissemination of knowledge and the adoption of evidence-based practices in systems and programs that serve persons with co-occurring disorders. CSAT and the CMHS are SAMHSA's lead agencies for this initiative.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Center for Excellence
The SAMHSA/CSAP's FASD Center for Excellence was launched in 2001. Congress authorized the Center in Section 519D of the Children's Health Act of 2000, which included six mandates (Section b of 42 USC 290bb-25d or Public Law 106-310). The mandates focus on exploring innovative service delivery strategies; developing comprehensive systems of care for FASD prevention and treatment; training service system staff, families, and individuals with an FASD; and preventing alcohol use among women of childbearing age.

The mission of the FASD Center for Excellence is to facilitate the development and improvement of prevention, treatment, and care systems in the United States by providing national leadership and facilitating collaboration in the field.

National Centers for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPTs)
The following is from the homepage of the National CSAP CAPT Web site:

"The primary mission of SAMHSA/CSAP's National Centers for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) is to bring research to practice by assisting States/Jurisdictions and community-based organizations in the application of the latest evidence-based knowledge to their substance abuse prevention programs, practices, and policies.

"The CAPTs form one of the cornerstones of SAMHSA/CSAP's efforts to bring effective substance abuse prevention to every community by moving science into services. Under the guidance of SAMHSA/CSAP, the CAPTs work to expand the capacity of the substance abuse prevention field by providing state-of-the-science technical assistance and training to States and communities in planning, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive prevention systems.

"The overall CAPT program goals are to:

  • Expand capacity, increase effectiveness, and strengthen the performance and accountability of substance abuse prevention services at both the State and community levels.
  • Provide training and technical assistance to support effective, evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs, practices, and policies so that they can be applied successfully within the diverse contexts of life within communities, States, tribes, and other U.S. Jurisdictions.
  • Monitor the delivery and quality of services so that the impact of these services can be assessed in relation to States and communities reaching their goals."

The National CSAP CAPT Web site provides links to each of the individual Centers that make up the system: Northeast, Central, Western, Southeast, and Southwest.

This map illustrates the CSAP CAPT system.

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)
SAMHSA's NCADI provides the Nation with a one-stop resource for substance abuse prevention and treatment information. The NCADI information services department responds to alcohol and substance abuse information requests via telephone, e-mail, voice mail, postal mail, TDD, and fax.

SAMHSA's NCADI offers a wide variety of services. Requesters may:

  • Place Publication Orders. NCADI distributes a wide range of free or low-cost materials, including fact sheets, brochures, pamphlets, monographs, posters, and videotapes. One of many recent publications of particular interest is Focus on Prevention (2005, DHHS Publication No. [SMA] 06-4120). This is a practical guide any community can use to begin applying successful prevention strategies to meet their substance abuse prevention needs. The content is user-friendly, easy-to-ready, and provides 2-page summaries of 11 substance abuse prevention topics. A detailed model of a start-to-finish timeline for a prevention activity is included. Focus on Prevention is available in PDF format at http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/prevline/pdfs/
    FocusOn_Layout_OPT.pdf. Printed copies may be ordered from SAMHSA's NCADI.
  • Speak to an Information Specialist. Information specialists are trained to answer questions about alcohol and substance abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment. NCADI information specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TDD and Spanish-language services are also available.
  • Obtain Referrals. NCADI can refer inquirers to other alcohol- and substance abuse-concerned organizations and centers that can provide them with additional information.

To contact NCADI:
800-729-6686
1-877-SAMHSA-7
TDD: 800-487-4889
Español: 877-767-8432

Older Americans Substance Abuse and Mental Health Technical Assistance Center
The mission of the Older Americans Substance Abuse and Mental Health Technical Assistance Center is to enhance the quality of life and promote the physical and mental well-being of older Americans through the provision of technical assistance by reducing the risk for and incidence of substance abuse and mental health issues late in life. Through partnerships with State and Federal agencies and community health care providers, the Center serves as a national repository to disseminate information, training, and direct assistance in the prevention and early intervention of substance abuse and mental health problems. Priorities for the Center include prevention and early intervention of:

  • Substance abuse
  • Medication misuse and abuse
  • Mental health disorders
  • Co-occurring disorders.

Other SAMHSA Online Resources

Many of SAMHSA's growing lists of publications and online resources developed to assist the States and their communities in the design, implementation, and evaluation of substance abuse prevention are referenced throughout this handbook. All of them can be located through the SAMHSA Web site homepage and many are available on the CSAP Web site at www.prevention.samhsa.gov. The following is a partial listing of contents available through www.samhsa.gov that prevention planners and practitioners are likely to use on a regular basis:

The following online course available at the Prevention Platform site deserves a special note:

Foundations of Prevention Online

Foundations of Prevention: An Online Course in the Core Knowledge of Substance Abuse Prevention consists of eight instructional units broken up into separate learning modules. The units are:

  • Prevention and the Public Health Model
  • Risk and Protective Factors
  • Prevention Strategies
  • Individual and Social Change
  • Health Communication and Social Marketing
  • Needs and Resource Assessment
  • Planning for Successful Outcomes
  • Resources for Prevention Planning.

The course is self-paced and available 24 hours a day. Tests are scored immediately so users know how well they are doing and when they need to review.

http://preventionplatform.samhsa.gov/fop