An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A
lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
The SAMHSA Program to Advance Recovery Knowledge (SPARK) supports transformational, recovery-oriented change for every state, tribal, and territorial behavioral health system and promotes equitable access to recovery supports in the United States. This resource center includes current information focused on equitable recovery supports including recovery-oriented care, recovery supports and services, and recovery-oriented systems for people with mental health/substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. If you have questions about these resources or suggestions for recovery resources to be added, please email the SPARK team. Learn more about SPARK and request training and technical assistance.
SAMHSA's updated Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit provides guidance to a wide range of individuals on preventing and responding to an overdose. The toolkit also emphasizes that harm reduction and access to treatment are essential aspects of overdose prevention.
SAMHSA recognizes that people with lived experience are fundamental to improving mental health and substance use services and should be meaningfully involved in the planning, delivery, administration, evaluation, and policy development of services and supports to improve our processes and outcomes.
Peer workers are emerging as important members of treatment teams. Help supervisors understand how to supervise peer workers in behavioral health services:
This four-part webcast series educates healthcare professionals about the importance of using approaches that are free of discriminatory attitudes and behaviors in treating individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) and related conditions, as well as patients living their lives in recovery.
In 2015, SAMHSA led an effort to identify the critical knowledge, skills, and abilities leading to Core Competencies needed for peer workers in behavioral health services.
This manual provides guidance on the use of medication-assisted treatment for alcohol use misuse. It summarizes approved medications, screening and assessment, treatment planning, and patient monitoring.