Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) announced today that Sam Houston State University has been awarded $297,959 from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA) at the Department of Health and Human Services.  These funds will allow for a joint research project between Sam Houston State University, Phoenix House of Texas and Montgomery County Juvenile Probation Department to test the effectiveness of a family based drug treatment program.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the different levels of government to work together to offer real support to help solve a real problem.  We must offer our support to those youths who violate our drug laws; I hope this program will give hope to those families whose children have taken steps down a dangerous path.  The family is the most important institution in society and it is important we offer support to families which will help steer children towards a bright future,” said Brady.

The purpose of the SAMHSA Assertive Adolescent and Family Treatment grants program is to address gaps in substance abuse services and/or to increase different levels of government, tribal and other organizations to help specific populations or geographic areas with serious emerging substance abuse problems and to integrate that knowledge into real-world practice as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Craig Henderson, Ph.D, SHSU Assistant Professor of Psychology and Principal Investigator of the research project, said, "I’m very excited about the opportunity to work with Phoenix House of Texas and the Montgomery County Juvenile Probation Department to provide much-needed drug abuse treatment services to adolescents and their families in our community.  Research on adolescent substance abuse has shown that family-based treatment models are among the most effective interventions available, so we are looking forward to making real differences in families’ lives.  We’re very grateful that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association viewed our project as being worthy of federal funding."