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1992.10.09 :  Formation of Special Office of AIDS

Contact:  Jim Miller (301) 443-8956
October 9, 1992

        Elaine M. Johnson, Ph.D., acting administrator of the  
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA), the newest agency within the U.S. Public Health
Service, announced today the formation of a special Office of
AIDS to focus the agency's energy and resources on helping solve
this critical public health problem.
       The Office of AIDS, to be headed by an associate
administrator, will be responsible for promoting, monitoring and
evaluating activities throughout SAMHSA that relate to AIDS. 
       James Mason, M.D., HHS assistant secretary for health and
head of the Public Health Service, said, "SAMHSA is uniquely
placed within the Department of Health and Human Services to have
an impact on helping slow the rate of HIV transmission and AIDS
through its diversity of relevant activities.  These include
prevention and treatment programs for substance abusers and the
mentally ill, outreach to these individuals to bring them into
treatment, training of health care workers and public education
activities."
       Priority populations on which the new office will focus
include youth living in high-risk environments and persons in the
criminal justice system. 
       Examples of current AIDS related programs underway within
components of SAMHSA include a $10.5 million program of the
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment supporting 32 community-
based outreach projects for substance abusers at highest risk for
HIV infection; a $7.8 million CSAT program to support and assess
models for linking drug abuse treatment and primary care; a $3
million CSAT program to train treatment personnel in treatment
and clinical care issues for HIV-infected persons; and a $3
million training program of the Center for Mental Health Services
to prepare mental health workers to deal with the
psychoneurological aspects of AIDS.
       Other SAMHSA programs, including block grants to the
states, also incorporate prevention and treatment services for
persons at risk or already infected with the HIV virus.   
       "We look forward to the new Office of AIDS dramatically
enhancing the agency's contribution to the nation's efforts to
prevent new cases of AIDS and improve treatment for those already
afflicted," said Dr. Johnson.     

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