New Director Appointed to Lead SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Prevention

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that Christopher M. Jones, PharmD, DrPH, MPH, CAPT US Public Health Service, will join the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), effective August 21.

Dr Jones, who is also a member of the 2024 Rx and Illicit Drug Advisory Board, previously was the director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In this role, he provided scientific leadership and overall management of the center, including strategic direction and advancement of priorities, such as the prevention of drug overdose, suicide, and adverse childhood experiences.

Dr Jones has also previously served as the first director of the National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory at SAMHSA, acting associate deputy assistant secretary for science and data policy and director of the Division of Science Policy in the office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at HHS, and as a senior advisor in the Office of the Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Reference

CAPT Christopher Jones, PharmD, DrPH, MPH: Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. News release. US Department of Health and Human Services. July 6, 2023. Accessed July 11, 2023.