President Bushs Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Request for SAMHSA

FISCAL YEAR 2003 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (SAMHSA)

The $3.197 billion for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the President's FY 2003 budget reflects a $57 million (or 1.8%) increase over the FY 2002 level. The President's number one priority in the mental health and substance abuse area is to reduce the "substance abuse treatment gap" and reduce the waiting list for those seeking substance abuse services. In order to meet this objective, the President has requested an additional $126 million for substance abuse treatment. However, this increase comes at the expense of other vital, related programs. More specifically, the proposed budget for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) is slated for a decrease of $45 million from FY 2002, while the proposed budget for the Center for Mental Health Services is a meager $212,000 increase.

(in thousands)

	FY 2001	FY 2002	Budget Request FY2003	Difference from FY2002
Mental Health
Programs of Regional and National Significance	203,390	229,918	223,067	(-6,851)
Mental Health Performance Partnership Block Grant	420,000	433,000	433,000	0
Children's Mental Health	91,645	96,631	96,694	63
Grants to States for the Homeless (PATH)	36,855	39,855	46,855	7,000
Protection and Advocacy	30,000	32,500	32,500	0
Total: Mental Health	788,655	831,904	832,116	212
Substance Abuse Treatment
Programs of Regional and National Significance	255,985	291,383	357,994	66,611
Substance Abuse Performance Partnership	1,665,000	1,725,000	1,785,000	60,000
Total: Substance Abuse Treatment	1,920,985	2,016,383	2,142,994	126,611
Substance Abuse Prevention
Programs of Regional and National Significance	174,919	198,011	152,815	(45,196)
High Risk Youth Grants	7,000	0	0	0
Total: Substance Abuse Prevention	181,919	198,011	152,815	(45,196)
Total: SAMHSA	2,968,000	3,142,000	3,197,704	55,704

For More information, contact Denis Nissim Sabat at (202) 336-6104