---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 290bb"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "290bb"
heading: "Center for Substance Abuse Treatment"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/290bb"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter III–A — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration"
  - "Part B — Centers and Programs"
  - "Subpart 1 — center for substance abuse treatment"
---

# §290bb. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

- (a) **Establishment—** There is established in the Administration a Center for Substance Abuse [Treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Center”). The Center shall be headed by a [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) (hereafter in this section referred to as the “[Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5)”) appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) from among individuals with extensive experience or academic qualifications in the [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of substance use disorders or in the evaluation of substance use disorder [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) systems.
- (b) **Duties—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Center shall—
  - (1) administer the substance use disorder [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) block grant [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) authorized in [section 300x–21 of this title](/usc/42/300x–21.md);
  - (2) ensure that emphasis is placed on children and [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9) in the development of [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
  - (3) collaborate with the Attorney General to develop [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to provide substance use disorder [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to individuals who have had contact with the Justice system, especially [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9);
  - (4) collaborate with the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention in order to provide outreach [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to identify individuals in need of [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), with emphasis on the provision of such [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to pregnant and postpartum women and their infants and to individuals who illicitly use [drugs](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) intravenously;
  - (5) collaborate with the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the National Institute on [Drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) Abuse, with the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and with the [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) to promote the study, dissemination, and implementation of research findings that will improve the delivery and effectiveness of [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a);
  - (6) collaborate with the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Health Resources and [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Administration and the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to promote the increased integration into the mainstream of the health care system of the United States of [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for providing [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a);
  - (7) evaluate plans submitted by the [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) pursuant to [section 300x–32(a)(6) of this title](/usc/42/300x–32.md?p=a-6) in order to determine whether the plans adequately provide for the availability, [allocation](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=2), and effectiveness of [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a);
  - (8) sponsor regional workshops on improving the quality and availability of [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a);
  - (9) provide technical assistance to public and [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) private entities that provide [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), including technical assistance with respect to the process of submitting to the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) applications for any [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) of grants or contracts;
  - (10) carry out activities to educate individuals on the need for establishing [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) facilities within their communities;
  - (11) encourage public and private entities that provide health insurance to provide benefits for outpatient [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and other nonhospital-based [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a);
  - (12) evaluate [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to determine the quality and appropriateness of various forms of [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), which shall be carried out through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements provided to public or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) private entities;
  - (13) ensure the consistent documentation of the application of criteria when awarding grants and the ongoing oversight of grantees after such grants are awarded;
  - (14) work with [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8), and individuals in recovery, and their families, to promote the expansion of recovery support [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and systems of care oriented toward recovery;
  - (15) in cooperation with the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), implement and disseminate, as appropriate, the recommendations in the report entitled “Protecting Our Infants Act: Final Strategy” issued by the Department of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) in 2017; and
  - (16) in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, and through public-private partnerships, encourage education about substance use disorders for pregnant women and [health care providers](/usc/42/300aa–33.md?p=1) who treat pregnant women and babies.
- (c) **Grants and contracts—** In carrying out the duties established in [subsection (b)](#b), the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) may make grants to and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with public and [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) private entities.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title V, § 507, as added Pub. L. 102–321, title I, § 107(2), July 10, 1992, 106 Stat. 335; amended Pub. L. 106–310, div. B, title XXXI, § 3112(a), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1188; Pub. L. 108–173, title IX, § 900(e)(2)(B), Dec. 8, 2003, 117 Stat. 2372; Pub. L. 114–255, div. B, title VI, § 6007(c), Dec. 13, 2016, 130 Stat. 1214; Pub. L. 115–271, title VII, § 7063(b), (c), Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4020.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 290bb, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title V, § 510, formerly Pub. L. 91–616, title V, § 501, as added Pub. L. 94–371, § 7, July 26, 1976, 90 Stat. 1038; amended Pub. L. 95–622, title II, § 268(c), (d), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3437; Pub. L. 96–180, § 14, Jan. 2, 1980, 93 Stat. 1305; renumbered § 510 of act July 1, 1944, and amended Apr. 26, 1983, Pub. L. 98–24, § 2(b)(9), 97 Stat. 179; Oct. 19, 1984, Pub. L. 98–509, title II, §§ 205(a)(1), 206(c)(1), 98 Stat. 2361, 2362, related to encouragement of alcohol abuse and alcoholism research, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–321, § 122(b)(1). Prior to repeal, section 510(b) of act July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 464H(b) by Pub. L. 102–321 and transferred to section 285n(b) of this title.

A prior section 507 of act July 1, 1944, which was classified to section 290aa–5 of this title, was renumbered section 504 of act July 1, 1944, by Pub. L. 102–321 and transferred to section 290aa–3 of this title.

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (b)(15). Pub. L. 115–271, § 7063(b), added subsec. (b)(15).

Subsec. (b)(16). Pub. L. 115–271, § 7063(c), added par. (16).

2016—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–255, § 6007(c)(1), substituted “treatment of substance use disorders” for “treatment of substance abuse” and “use disorder treatment systems” for “abuse treatment systems”.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 114–255, § 6007(c)(2)(A), substituted “use disorder” for “abuse”.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 114–255, § 6007(c)(2)(B), substituted “use disorder” for “abuse”.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 114–255, § 6007(c)(2)(C), substituted “individuals who illicitly use drugs” for “individuals who abuse drugs”.

Subsec. (b)(9). Pub. L. 114–255, § 6007(c)(2)(D), struck out “carried out by the Director” before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (b)(10) to (14). Pub. L. 114–255, § 6007(c)(2)E–(H), added pars. (13) and (14), redesignated pars. (11) to (14) as (10) to (13), respectively, struck out former par. (10), which related to encouraging the States to expand the availability (relative to fiscal year 1992) of programs providing treatment services, and struck out par. (13), as redesignated, which related to assessing the quality, appropriateness, and costs of various treatment forms.

2003—Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 108–173 substituted “Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services” for “Health Care Financing Administration”.

2000—Subsec. (b)(2) to (6). Pub. L. 106–310, § 3112(a)(1), (2), added pars. (2) and (3) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (4) as (4) to (6), respectively. Former pars. (5) and (6) redesignated (7) and (8), respectively.

Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 106–310, § 3112(a)(1), (3), redesignated par. (5) as (7) and substituted “services” for “services, and monitor the use of revolving loan funds pursuant to section 300x–25 of this title”. Former par. (7) redesignated (9).

Subsec. (b)(8) to (12). Pub. L. 106–310, § 3112(a)(1), redesignated pars. (6) to (10) as (8) to (12), respectively. Former pars. (11) and (12) redesignated (13) and (14), respectively.

Subsec. (b)(13). Pub. L. 106–310, § 3112(a)(1), (4), redesignated par. (11) as (13) and substituted “treatment, which shall” for “treatment, including the effect of living in housing provided by programs established under section 300x–25 of this title, which shall”.

Subsec. (b)(14). Pub. L. 106–310, § 3112(a)(1), (5), redesignated par. (12) as (14) and substituted “paragraph (13)” for “paragraph (11)”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1992, with provision for programs providing financial assistance, see section 801(c), (d) of Pub. L. 102–321, set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note under section 236 of this title.