Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the US Federal agency charged with improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses. SAMHSA is a branch of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It was founded in 1992 as part of a reorganization of the Federal administration of mental health services; the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration (ADAMHA) was abolished and its service components were transferred to the newly-organized SAMSHA.

As of January 2007, SAMHSA's Administrator is Terry Cline, Ph.D., who reports to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt. Cline replaced Charles Curie, who resigned in May 2006.

Controversy
In February 2004, the administration required the name change of an Oregon mental health conference from "Suicide Prevention Among Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Individuals" to "Suicide Prevention in Vulnerable Populations."