For the past five years the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been implementing its 2005 Substance Abuse Strategic Plan. Much has been achieved. Now, in light of that record of accomplishment as well as dramatic changes in the health care, fiscal and policy environments, it is time to update the Plan. This update suggests eight focus areas, including: maximizing interagency collaboration; identifying and addressing disparities throughout the service system; increasing the capacity of communities and other service systems to prevent substance use and addictions while strengthening linkages to needed services; improving access to substance use and addictions screening and services; strengthening the array of recovery oriented services; improving the performance of all components of the substance use and addictions system; strengthening the substance use and addictions workforce and enhancing organizational development; and strengthening collaborations and increasing the integration and availability of substance use and addiction services throughout the criminal justice system. By implementing the strategies outlined within each of these areas, Massachusetts can continue to be a national leader in preventing substance use and addictions and in assuring that individuals with addictions receive coordinated, culturally responsive, recovery oriented prevention, intervention, treatment and support services.