---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 290ee–6"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "290ee–6"
heading: "Regional Centers of Excellence in Substance Use Disorder Education"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/290ee-6"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter III–A — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration"
  - "Part D — Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Substance Abuse and Mental Health"
---

# §290ee–6. Regional Centers of Excellence in Substance Use Disorder Education

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in consultation with appropriate [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), shall award cooperative agreements to eligible entities for the designation of such entities as Regional Centers of Excellence in Substance Use Disorder Education for purposes of improving health professional training resources with respect to substance use disorder prevention, [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), and recovery.
- (b) **Eligibility—** To be eligible to receive a cooperative agreement under [subsection (a)](#a), an entity shall—
  - (1) be an accredited entity that offers education to students in various health professions, which may include—
    - (A) a teaching [hospital](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1);
    - (B) a medical [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6);
    - (C) a certified behavioral health clinic; or
    - (D) any other health professions [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6), [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) of public health, or Cooperative Extension [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) at institutions of higher education, as defined in [section 1001 of title 20](/usc/20/1001.md), engaged in the prevention, [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), or recovery of substance use disorders;
  - (2) demonstrate community engagement and partnerships with community stakeholders, including entities that train health professionals, mental health counselors, social workers, peer recovery specialists, substance use [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), community health centers, physician offices, certified behavioral health clinics, research institutions, and law enforcement; and
  - (3) submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) an application containing such information, at such time, and in such manner, as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may require.
- (c) **Activities—** An entity receiving an award under this section shall develop, evaluate, and distribute evidence-based resources regarding the prevention and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of, and recovery from, substance use disorders. Such resources may include information on—
  - (1) the neurology and pathology of substance use disorders;
  - (2) advancements in the [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of substance use disorders;
  - (3) techniques and best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) to support recovery from substance use disorders;
  - (4) strategies for the prevention and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of, and recovery from substance use disorders across patient populations; and
  - (5) other topic areas that are relevant to the objectives described in [subsection (a)](#a).
- (d) **Geographic distribution—** In awarding cooperative agreements under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall take into account regional differences among eligible entities and shall make an effort to ensure geographic distribution.
- (e) **Evaluation—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall evaluate each [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) carried out by an entity receiving an award under this section and shall disseminate the findings with respect to each such evaluation to appropriate public and private entities.
- (f) **Funding—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title V, § 551, as added Pub. L. 115–271, title VII, § 7101, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4037.)