HHS Secretary Azar, SAMHSA Assistant Secretary McCance-Katz Statements on Launch of FindTreatment.Gov

Cross-posted from U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Press Office

Note: Find information about HIV and substance use at HIV.gov's pages, Substance Use and HIV Risk and Alcohol and Drug Use and Living with HIV.

Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the launch of FindTreatment.gov, a newly designed website that will help connect Americans looking for substance abuse treatment with approximately 13,000 locations across the United States. HHS Secretary Alex Azar and SAMHSA Assistant Secretary Elinore McCance-Katz issued the following statements:

"Better access to treatment, prevention, and recovery services is one of the five pillars of HHS's strategy to end the opioid crisis," said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. "Under President Trump, we have unequivocally and strongly supported medication-assisted treatment in particular because we see addiction as a medical issue, not a moral failing. Addiction demands treatment, not judgment. We know that finding access to the right provider, at the right time, can be essential to helping someone start on the road to recovery. Now, thanks to FindTreatment.gov, more Americans will have easier ways to the find the treatment that they or loved ones might need."

"An easily-accessible system to locate treatment will be a critical tool for individuals to get the care they need" said Elinore F. McCance-Katz, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use. "Increasing treatment access is an integral part of the approach to address substance use disorders across the country."

Further background from HHS

• Over 19.3 million American adults had substance use disorder (SUD) in 2018, and connecting them with appropriate treatment is a critical step to combating the opioid crisis in America
• In 2019, estimates suggest 1.27 million Americans are receiving medication-assisted treatment, a 38 percent increase from an estimated 921,000 Americans in 2016
• FindTreatment.Gov is designed to provide the most relevant information for each individual's recovery needs by creating a modern, user-friendly experience that is visually clear, simple, and welcoming to those in crisis
• Visitors can access information on location, treatment options, payment and insurance information, and over 13,000 state-licensed facilities, based on data compiled by SAMHSA
• Examples of treatment include:
  • Residential treatment - Live-in care, lasting for a month up to one year
  • Outpatient treatment - Treatment at a program site while the patient continues to live on their own
  • Detoxification - Supervised withdrawal from substance use
  • Interim care - When immediate admission to other care isn't available
• Content and design were developed over the last year by incorporating 300 pieces of feedback, plus 60 long-form informational interviews, from recovery professionals, help line operators, local advocates, parents seeking help, and Americans in active recovery