The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminstration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. Charged with reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illnesses of America's communities, SAMHSA has made significant strides throughout its 22-year history and serves as a national and global leader in the field of behavioral health care. SAMHSA provides leadership and devotes its resources, including programs, policies, information and data, contracts and grants, to help the United States act on the knowledge that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from mental and substance use disorders.