Today, approximately 13 million individuals in this country have substance use disorders. Of those, only about 3 million are receiving treatment. In any given year, an estimated 44 million persons experience a mental disorder, although nearly half do not seek treatment. These populations overlap, with an estimated 7 to 10 million persons having co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

Addressing the needs of all these citizens is a critically important national health priority. Although the effectiveness of treatment has been well-established, the social, organizational, and financial barriers to care are significant. Research in these areas is an important part of the ongoing effort to improve the services available to persons with mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. Particularly essential, such research shows, is the availability of recovery support services, which can help prevent relapse and promote a successful return to the community following treatment.

As a result of many years of work in this area, Health Systems Research, Inc. (HSR), is a recognized leader in building national, State, and local capacity to develop effective prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for persons with substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders and their families. Within HSR, staff of the Behavioral Health Promotion, Treatment, and Recovery Practice Area specializes in behavioral health policy analysis, health services research and evaluation, and the provision of technical assistance (TA) in all aspects of behavioral health issues.

HSR has conducted analyses and evaluations of behavioral health care delivery and financing systems for a variety of clients, including the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), the Center for Mental Health Services, and other Federal agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). In carrying out assignments for these clients, HSR has been responsible for a broad range of activities, including:

• The provision of TA to behavioral health, Medicaid, and other State agencies
• Evaluations of the organization and financing of State and local health care service delivery systems
• Indepth analysis of major State policy initiatives affecting the provision of substance abuse treatment services
• The development of guidelines on key issues in substance abuse and mental health
• The planning and conduct of national, regional, and statewide conferences, meetings, seminars, and workshops attended by Federal and State policymakers, consumers, health care providers, and other stakeholders
• The deployment of a large cadre of multicultural experts who are well-versed in substance abuse, mental health disorders, co-occurring disorders, public/private collaborations, criminal justice issues, HIV/AIDS, strategic planning, trauma service, domestic violence, recovery communities, and at-risk populations.