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 |