SAMHSA stands for which organization?

• A. Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration
• B. Substance and Mental Health Services Administration
• C. Substance Abuse Mental Health Standards Authority
• D. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration

Answer: (A)

Understanding acronyms in agency names comes down to matching each word to the initials. SAMHSA stands for the federal agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that focuses on behavioral health. The official name is Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, so the words appear in that exact order, with “Substance Abuse” as the first two concepts, “Mental Health” as the next two, “Services” in plural, and ending with “Administration.” The other options mix up words or plurals (for example, a different word in place of Services, or swapping Administration for Authority, Standards, or Service), which is why they aren’t correct. Knowing the actual title helps you verify the expansion of the acronym accurately.