TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Mental health and substance abuse experts and advocates are convening today for Florida’s first statewide Mental Health and Addiction Disorders Science Summit. Legislators, state agency executives, community providers, members of the media and other state leaders have been invited to learn the medical dynamics of mental health and addiction disorders and the effectiveness and efficiency of the evidence-based practices currently being implemented in Florida’s mental health and substance abuse systems. 
Recently, both the Florida Council for Community Mental Health (FCCMH) and Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA) pioneered independent research studies on mental health and addiction disorders in Florida. Advocates feel the groundbreaking results are proof that mental health and substance abuse programs provide large societal benefits.
“We are excited to present research that proves mental health and addiction disorders are indeed brain disorders that can be effectively treated while providing substantial cost-savings to the state,” said Bob Sharpe, president and CEO of FCCMH. “Medical research about these disorders is rapidly evolving, and Florida’s citizens deserve to benefit from advances that could vastly improve their quality of life. Good mental health is an essential component of good physical health, and we now have the medical research necessary to prove it.”
The Summit will be facilitated by Dr. David Shern, CEO and president of Mental Health of America, and will include panels with state and national experts. Topics covered will include the medical dynamics of mental illness and substance abuse; advances in evidence-based behavioral health practice (including those used by Florida agencies); efforts both nationally and statewide to turn science into practice; and returns on investments, both from a quality and cost standpoint, of using proven treatments and services.
Florida currently ranks 50th in the nation among the states and the District of Columbia for mental health and substance abuse funding, and the Florida Senate is proposing an additional $108 million in cuts. Summit organizers hope that the research presented during the event will dispel common misconceptions associated with mental health and addiction disorders, especially those that disregard the effectiveness of treatment, and help Florida’s leaders make more informed budget and policy decisions.
The Summit is sponsored by NAMI Florida (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), FCCMH, FADAA, Disabilities Rights Florida, Florida Partners in Crisis, and the Florida Psychiatric Society.
For more information, visit http://www.fccmh.org/news/summit_intro.asp.