Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
May 28, 2003, Vol. 03-38

James Stone Named Deputy Administrator, SAMHSA

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Administrator Charles G. Curie today announced that James L. Stone has been appointed deputy administrator of SAMHSA. SAMHSA, a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is dedicated to providing prevention and treatment services that build resilience and facilitate recovery from substance abuse and mental illness.

Prior to joining SAMHSA, Stone was Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health. There he supervised the New York State public mental health system, which includes 27 psychiatric centers serving over 6,000 hospitalized individuals and 20,000 individuals receiving outpatient services. As commissioner of mental health he worked with local government to assure effective services and proper regulation and licensure of over 2,500 programs across the state.

"James Stone will further our vision of a healthier U.S. by addressing the mental illnesses and substance abuse that disable millions of Americans," Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "Those who suffer from mental illness or substance abuse deserve to be treated with the same compassion and medical attention as those who suffer physical ailments. James Stone's stellar record in New York shows we have the right man for the job."