Northeast > Resources > States > Massachusetts

Single State Agency (SSA)

Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services: The Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) serves as the Single State Agency for Massachusetts. This agency oversees the MassCALL State Incentive Grant program. In addition, the Bureau oversees 10 Regional Prevention Centers, Statewide Prevention Support Services, and 41 Youth programs.

Provider Network

Massachusetts has a state wide prevention system that is all coordinated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. There are central and regional offices whose contact information is available by contacting the BSAS.

State Tobacco Initiative

The Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program (MTCP) is a statewide government program dedicated to addressing the severe health risks associated with tobacco use. MTCP funds local and statewide programs, conducts tobacco related research, supports a comprehensive media campaign, and monitors the activity of the tobacco industry through regulations requiring disclosure of ingredients, more accurate measures of nicotine levels, and measures of toxic smoke constituents. The program has also assisted in the creation of a number of web-based resources.

Other Statewide Substance Abuse Prevention Funding Agencies

Department of Student Support, Career and Education: Department of Student Support, Career and Education oversees Massachusetts Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities grant, which funds school and community-based health education initiatives throughout Massachusetts.

Executive Office of Public Safety: The Executive Office of Public Safety (EOPS) plans and manages the Commonwealth's public safety efforts by supporting, supervising, and providing planning and guidance to a variety of Massachusetts’s public safety agencies boards and commissions.

Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau: The Governor's Highway Safety Bureau uses federal highway safety funds to reduce motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries in the Massachusetts. This agency aims to address the dangers of impaired driving, as well as other issues related to safety belts and child restraint seat use, speeding, and bicycle, motorcycle and pedestrian safety.

Office of Nutrition, Health and Safety: The Department of Student Support, Career and Education (SSCE) oversees Massachusetts Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities grant, which funds school and community-based health education initiatives throughout Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Department of Education: There is an ongoing commitment by the Massachusetts Department of Education to help prevent and decrease tobacco use by students.

Agencies/Organizations in State that Provide Technical Assistance and Training

Massachusetts Partnership for Healthy Communities: The Massachusetts Partnership works to increase collaboration among boards of health/health departments, healthy commmunities and related initiatives at local/regional, statewide and national levels. The Massachusetts Partnership uses four different strategies to increase community capacity to develop and implement a healthy communities approach for sustainable change: Networking, Technical Assistance, Resource Development and Training.

Regional Centers for Healthy Communities: The Massachachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Healthy Communities, has reorganized the Massachusetts Prevention Center system into a statewide capacity-building system which includes six Regional Centers in support of healthier communities and to reduce alcohol and substance abuse with an emphasis on youth development. RCHCs provide new and more effective ways to build support for health and safety related initiatives in communities across the Commonwealth.

Radar Network (Regional Alcohol and Drug Awareness Resource)

Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Health Promotion Clearinghouse provides free health promotion materials for Massachusetts residents and health and social service providers in the Commonwealth.

Evaluation Resources

Social Science Research and Evaluation (SSRE): SSRE is a research and consulting firm that specializes in the delivery of program evaluation and basic and applied social science research services. SSRE works with government, industry, and private organizations at the federal, state and local levels. Their staff possess experience in evaluation of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention programs, development of ATOD prevention programming, managed care research, educational research, highway safety, and criminal justice research. Contact them at 781-270-6613 or mcummins@ssre.org

State Data Sources

The Massachusetts Community Health Information Profile (MassCHIP): The Massachusetts Community Health Information Profile provides free, online access to data on several health and social indicators. With MassCHIP, one can access community-level data to assess health needs, monitor health status indicators, and evaluate health programs.