SAMHSA 2005 Budget

 

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Overview

(Dollars in thousands)

FY 2004  +/- 
FY 2003 Final FY 2005 FY 2004
  Actual Conference Estimate Final Conf.
Programs of Regional and
National Significance  a/ $317,278 $419,219 $517,032 +$97,813
SAPT Block Grant b/ 1,753,932 1,779,146 1,832,235 +53,089
PHS Evaluation                     -    ---                     - 0
TOTAL
$2,071,210 $2,198,365 $2,349,267 +$150,902
a/ FY 2005 includes $4.3 million from PHS evaluation funds.
b/ The SAPT Block Grant includes PHS Evaluation Funds of $62.2 million (FY 2003), $79.2 million (FY 2004)
and $79.2 million (FY 2005)

The mission of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is to improve the health of the nation by bringing effective alcohol and drug treatment to every community. CSAT's primary objectives are to increase the availability of clinical treatment and recovery support services commensurate with need; to improve and strengthen substance abuse clinical treatment and recovery support organizations and systems; and to transfer knowledge gained from research into effective practices.

The effects of substance use disorders are seen in permanent damage to our children, the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, criminal involvement, premature and preventable deaths, and economic and social consequences estimated to cost the nation more than $294 billion each year (National Estimates of Expenditures for Substance Abuse Treatment, 1997, CSAT, February, 2001).

Results from the National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study (NTIES) and other studies have demonstrated that treatment is effective (CSAT, 1997). In addition to showing that the average cost benefits of treatment greatly exceeded the average costs, NTIES results showed that substance abuse treatment:

  • Reduced illicit drug use by half (48%).
  • Improved physical and mental health. Alcohol/drug related medical visits declined by 53% after treatment. Inpatient mental health visits declined by 28%.
  • Reduced criminal activity by as much as 80%.

CSAT administers two major programs: Programs of Regional and National Significance (PRNS), proposed for an increase of $98 million, and the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant, proposed for an increase of $53 million.

The President's Drug Treatment Initiative (PDTI), a commitment to expand clinical treatment and recovery support services over five years, began in FY 2002 with a $94.6 million investment and continued in FY 2003 with a $55.6 million increase. These increases supported the Targeted Capacity Expansion program, the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, and a new FY 2003 Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral, and Treatment Program (SBIRT). In FY 2004, $99.4 million will launch a new drug and alcohol treatment voucher program (Access to Recovery) targeted to States. This program will complement the SBIRT Program, allowing individuals seeking clinical treatment and recovery support services to exercise choice among qualified community provider organizations, including those that are faith-based. An additional 190,000 people have received treatment services since the inception of the President's Drug Treatment Initiative.

In FY 2005, CSAT proposes to continue these major new investments, and to devote new funding to three areas: increase funds for the ATR Program to a total of $200 million; fund an evaluation of the SBIRT program ($2 million), and increase funds for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant by $53 million, which will maintain current services.

See Also:

CSAT Program Priority Areas
Mechanism Table