SAMHSA Announces Position Change

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, responsible for improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services. The agency is at the forefront of research that helps both private and public sectors in the field of addiction medicine make informed decisions.

This week, SAMHSA announced that Rear Admiral Peter Delany, the Director of the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ), has been asked to serve as a Special Advisor to the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Delany will be analyzing data and policy issues in support of the President’s Initiative to Combat Opiate Use.

“I am grateful to Rear Admiral Delany for his many years of service to the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) and am confident that he will make a great contribution in this exciting new role,” said Kana Enomoto, Acting Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Enomoto reports that Daryl Kade has been asked to serve in Delany’s stead as the CBHSQs new director. Over the last year, Kade has been in charge of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).

“I appreciate Ms. Kade’s agility and demonstration of the true spirit of the Senior Executive Service by accepting this new assignment as we work toward the placement of a permanent CSAT Director,” Enomoto added. 

Most experts offer that 25% of the American population is impacted by the disease of addiction, and this number may be much understated. SAMHSA continues to fine tune their efforts in prevention, as well as offering resources and promoting recovery for all affected members of our society.