The Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and leader of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as well as the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released a letter urging the public health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment communities to increase the number of people with SUD who are tested and treated for HIV and viral hepatitis. Integrating HIV and viral hepatitis testing in SUD treatment settings improves treatment initiation, especially when treatment is co-located. This concept is in line with SAMHSA’s 2023–2026 Strategic Plan, which prioritizes the integration of behavioral and physical healthcare.
