Luis “Lucho” Vasquez is the Acting Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Through this position, he provides national leadership in the development of policies, programs, and services to prevent the onset of illegal drug use, prescription drug misuse and abuse, alcohol misuse and abuse, and underage alcohol and tobacco use; and promotes effective substance abuse prevention practices that enable states, communities, and other organizations to apply prevention knowledge effectively.

Previously, Mr. Vasquez served as Director of the Division of Service and Systems Improvement in the Center for Mental Health Services at SAMHSA. In that capacity, he provided leadership for federal programs that fund and coordinate mental health efforts related to children, adolescents, families, community support programs, homelessness, and HIV/AIDS.

Before coming to federal service, Mr. Vasquez worked as the Director of Homeless and Housing Services Department with Catholic Charities in Washington, DC, and as Director of Mobile Crisis Services in the DC Department of Mental Health. Mr. Vasquez is a licensed independent clinical social worker who has more than 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field.