believe that treatment works (less than 4 percent for 
alcoholism and only 2 percent for drugs). 
(9) According to a survey by the National Cen-
ter on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia 
University (referred to in this section as ‘‘CASA’’), 
94 percent of primary care physicians and 40 per-
cent of pediatricians presented with a classic de-
scription of an alcoholic or drug addict, respectively, 
failed to properly recognize the problem. 
(10) Another CASA report revealed that fewer 
than 1 percent of doctors presented with the classic 
profile of an alcoholic older woman could diagnose it 
properly. Eighty-two percent misdiagnosed it as de-
pression, some treatments for which are dangerous 
when taken with alcohol. 
(11) Training can greatly increase the degree to 
which medical and other health professionals screen 
patients for substance abuse. It can also increase the 
manner by which such professionals screen children 
and youth who may be impacted by the addiction of 
a parent or other primary caretaker. Boston Univer-
sity Medical School researchers designed and con-
ducted a seminar on detection and brief intervention 
of substance abuse for doctors, nurses, physician’s 
assistants, social workers and psychologists. Follow-
up studies reveal that 91 percent of those who par-
ticipated in the seminar report that they are still 
using the techniques up to 5 years later. 
(12) The total economic costs of untreated ad-
diction is estimated to be $274,800,000,000. Arming 
health care professionals with the information they 
need in order to intervene and prevent further sub-
stance abuse could lead to a significant cost savings. 
(13) A study conducted by doctors at the Uni-
versity of Wisconsin found a $947 net savings per 
patient in health care, accident, and criminal justice 
costs for each individual screened and, if appro-
priate, for whom intervention was made, with re-
spect to alcohol problems. 
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to— 
(1) improve the ability of health care profes-
sionals to identify and assist their patients in obtain-
ing appropriate treatment for substance abuse; 
(2) improve the ability of health care profes-
sionals to identify and refer children and youth af-
fected by substance abuse in their families for effec-
tive treatment; and 
(3) help establish an infrastructure to train 
health care professionals about substance abuse 
issues and the impact on families.
SEC. 3. HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDU-
CATION. 
Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 290dd et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 544. SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION FOR GENER-
ALIST HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. 
‘‘(a) SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERV-
ICES.—The Secretary shall carry out activities to train 
health professionals (who are generalists and not already 
specialists in substance abuse) so that they are competent 
to— 
‘‘(1) recognize substance abuse in their patients 
or the family members of their patients; 
‘‘(2) intervene, treat, or refer for treatment 
those individuals who are affected by substance 
abuse; 
‘‘(3) identify and assist children of substance 
abusing parents; 
‘‘(4) serve as advocates and resources for com-
munity-based substance abuse prevention programs; 
and 
‘‘(5) appropriately address the non-therapeutic 
use of prescription medications. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts received under this 
section shall be used—
‘‘(1) to continue grant support through cooper-
ative agreements to the Association for Medical 
Education and Research in Substance Abuse 
(AMERSA) Interdisciplinary Faculty Development 
Project; 
‘‘(2) to continue grants to the Association for 
Medical Education and Research in Substance 
Abuse (AMERSA) Interdisciplinary Faculty Devel-
opment Project; and 
‘‘(3) to support the Addiction Technology 
Transfer Centers counselor training programs to 
train substance abuse counselors and other health 
professionals such as dental assistants, allied health 
professionals including dietitians and nutritionists, 
occupational therapists, physical therapists, res-
piratory therapists, speech-language pathologists and 
audiologists, and therapeutic recreation specialists. 
‘‘(c) COLLABORATION.—The Secretary shall partici-
pate in interdisciplinary collaboration and collaborate with 
other nongovernmental organizations with respect to ac-
tivities carried out under this section. 
‘‘(d) ACADEMIC CREDITS.—The Secretary shall en-
courage community colleges and other academic institu-
tions determined appropriate by the Secretary to recognize