The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the findings from its 1999 national survey of substance abuse treatment facilities. The survey found continued increases in the number of facilities that had managed care contracts.

About 54 percent of facilities had managed care contracts in 1999, as compared to 32 percent in 1995. Overall the survey shows the structure of the treatment system has remained relatively constant over the past eight years.

In 1999, private non-profit facilities made up the bulk of the system (60 percent), followed by private for profit (26 percent) and State/local government (11 percent). Outpatient rehabilitation was the most widely available type of care, offered by 82 percent of all facilities.

Residential rehabilitation was offered by 25 percent of all facilities. Partial hospitalization programs were offered by 19 percent of facilities, and outpatient detoxification by 13 percent. Residential detoxification and hospital inpatient treatment (either detoxification or rehabilitation) were each offered by 5 to 8 percent of all facilities. About two-thirds of facilities (64 percent) engaged in substance abuse prevention programs.

Grants Available

"This annual survey helps us assess the nature and extent of services provided in State-supported and other substance abuse treatment facilities and in forecasting treatment resource requirements," said Joseph H. Autry III, M.D. acting SAMHSA Administrator. "It is one of the SAMHSA surveys that is driving the Bush administration's deep commitment to increasing the availability of comprehensive substance abuse treatment services.

"In his FY 2002 budget the President has proposed an increase of $60 million for SAMHSA's Substance Abuse Block Grants to states and an increase of $40 million for Targeted Capacity Expansion grants to cities, counties and tribes; and other programs to expand the availability of substance abuse treatment services. In addition, we are making available this year nearly $28 million in State Incentive Grants to help governors further develop comprehensive strategies in their states to prevent youth substance abuse before it leads to addiction."

As recently as 1980, the Federal government surveyed facilities treating alcohol and drug abuse separately. By 1999, the vast majority of facilities (96 percent) treated both alcohol and drug abuse. About two-thirds of facilities (65 percent) reported that treating substance abuse problems was their primary focus of activity. Seventeen percent reported that mental health treatment was their primary focus, and 14 percent reported that they focused on substance abuse and mental health equally.

Some facilities report they offer treatment programs designed to address the specific needs of certain groups. These groups include the dually diagnosed (persons with mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse), adolescents, persons with HIV/AIDS, and pregnant or postpartum women or persons in the criminal justice system. Many facilities offer treatment programs for persons arrested while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI).

Dually Diagnosed Treatment

Overall, nearly half (45 percent) of all facilities provide programs for the dually diagnosed. About 34 percent of facilities offered programs for adolescents. About one-fifth (22 percent) of facilities offered programs for persons with HIV/AIDS. Programs for pregnant or postpartum women were offered by 22 percent of facilities. Facilities offering programs for persons in the criminal justice system were relatively widely available, at 47 percent of all facilities.

Special programs for those arrested for DUI/DWI were offered by 38 percent of all facilities. These programs were most likely to be found in private for-profit and Department of Defense facilities (51 percent each).

Methadone/LAAM was dispensed by 8 percent of all facilities. Facilities most likely to dispense methadon/LAAM were Federal government facilities (14 percent), particularly the facilities operated by the Veterans Administration (23 percent). Private for-profit facilities were also more likely than average to dispense methadone/LAAM (11 percent).

The purpose of the annual survey, the Uniform Facility Data Set (UFDS), is to collect data on the location, characteristics, and use of alcoholism and drug treatment facilities and services throughout the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and other U.S. jurisdictions. In 1999, a total of 15,239 facilities, 95 percent of eligible facilities, participated in the survey.

Facility Locator

UFDS is also used to update SAMHSA's substance abuse treatment facility locator, a searchable database available on the Internet of state approved substance abuse treatment facilities. People seeking help can use the locator to find the phone number and location of the treatment facility nearest to them. They can find the locator by clicking on the words "Looking for help" on the SAMHSA homepage at www.samhsa.gov.