Acronym Glossary
The behavioral health industry uses a multitude of acronyms and it can be hard to keep them all straight. We have compiled this list from a variety of sources with the hope that it will be helpful to have them all in one place. Below are a list of commonly used acronyms in behavioral health.
Acronym |
Definition |
| AA | Alcoholics Anonymous |
| ACO | Accountable Care Organization |
| AFR | Advocates for Recovery |
| ASAM | American Society of Addiction Medicine |
| ATOD | Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs |
| ATR | Access to Recovery |
| ATTC | Addiction Technology and Transfer Center |
| BAC | Blood Alcohol Content |
| BAL | Blood Alcohol Level |
| CBHC | Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council |
| CD | Chemical Dependency |
| CFR | Code of Federal Regulations |
| CHIP | Children’s Health Insurance Program |
| CMHC | Community Mental Health Center |
| CMHS | Center of Mental Health Service |
| COPA | Colorado Providers Association |
| CSAP | Center for Substance Abuse Prevention |
| CSAT | Center for Substance Abuse Treatment |
| DACODS | Drug/Alcohol Coordinated Data System |
| DHHS | Department of Health and Human Services |
| DOC | Department of Corrections |
| DOE | Department of Education |
| DPH | Department of Public Health |
| DPHHS | Department of Public Health & Human Services |
| DSM-V | Diagnostic Statistical Manual, Edition 5 |
| DSS | Department of Social Services |
| DUI | Driving Under the Influence |
| DWI | Driving While Intoxicated |
| EBP | Evidence-Based Practice |
| EC | Emergency Commitment |
| FAVOR | Face and Voices of Recovery |
| FFS | Fee For Service |
| FQHC | Federally Qualified Health Center |
| FY | Fiscal Year |
| HCPF | Health Care Policy and Finance |
| HIPAA | Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act |
| IC | Involuntary Commitment |
| IC&RC | International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium |
| ICD | International Classification of Diseases |
| ICM | Intensive Case Management |
| IDU | Injection Drug User |
| IM | Intramuscular |
| IOP | Intensive Outpatient |
| IRT | Intensive Residential Treatment |
| IV | Intravenous |
| JBC | Joint Budget Committee |
| LAC | Licensed Addiction Counselor |
| MCO | Managed Care Organization |
| MHA | Mental Health of America |
| MHC | Mental Health Center |
| MIP | Minor in Possession |
| MOU | Memorandum of Understanding |
| MSO | Managed Services Organization |
| MST | Multi-Systemic Therapy |
| NA | Narcotics Anonymous |
| NAADAC | National Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors |
| NAMI | National Alliance for the Mentally Ill |
| NASADAD | National Association of State Alcohol & Drug Abuse Disorders |
| NASMHPD | National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors |
| NCADD | Nation Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence |
| NCADI | National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information |
| NIAAA | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism |
| NIATx | Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment |
| NIDA | National Institute of Drug Abuse |
| NPI | National Provider Identifier |
| NPN | National Prevention Network |
| NSDUH | National Survey on Drug Use and Health (formerly NHSDA) |
| OBH | Office of Behavioral Health |
| ONDCP | Office of National Drug Control Policy |
| ORT | Opioid Replacement Therapy |
| OSHA | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| OSPB | Office of State Planning & Budgeting |
| PCP | Primary Care Provider |
| PHI | Protected Health Information |
| PSO | Provider Service Organization |
| RCCO | Regional Care Collaborative Organization |
| RFI | Request For Information |
| RFP | Request For Proposal |
| RSS | Recovery Support Services |
| RTC | Residential Treatment Center |
| RWJ | Robert Wood Johnson Foundation |
| SA | Substance Abuse |
| SAAC | Substance Abuse Action Council |
| SAMHSA | Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration |
| SAPT | Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment |
| SBIRT | Screening & Brief Intervention Referral to Treatment |
| SMHA | State Mental Health Authority |
| SOAR | SSI/SSDI Outreach Access Recovery |
| SSA | Single State Agency |
| SSPA | Sub-State Planning Area |
| STIRRT | Short Term Intensive Residential Remediation Treatment |
| TANF | Temporary Assistance to Needy Families |
| TASC | Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities |
| TC | Therapeutic Community Modality |
| TEDS | The Treatment Episode Data Set |
| TRT | Transitional Residential Modality |
| WICHE | Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education |