Alcohol brand references in U.S. popular music, 2009-2011.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and context of alcohol brand references in popular music. Billboard Magazine year-end charts from 2009 to 2011 were used to identify the most popular songs in four genres: Urban, Pop, Country, and Rock. Of the 720 songs, 23% included an alcohol mention, and 6.

Transforming the Nation's Health: next steps in mental health promotion.

The National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine have called for making the healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development of young people a national priority. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the US Department of Health and Human Services is uniquely positioned to help develop national mental health policies that promote mental health and prevent mental illnesses. In this article I describe the role of mental health in overall health, I make the case for a public health approach to mental health promotion and mental illness prevention, and I outline a strategy to promote individual, family, and community resilience.

Focus on transformation: a public health model of mental health for the 21st century.

In 2003 the President's New Freedom Commission called for the transformation of the public mental health system to one that is person centered, recovery focused, evidence based, and quality driven. In this column the director of the Center for Mental Health Services describes progress made by the center over the past five years as well as challenges and opportunities. She presents a strategic forecast, based on stakeholder input, to guide policy formulation and resource allocation.

Policy and practice implications of epidemiological surveys on co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.

This article describes factors that influence national policy and practice, with particular focus on the implications of epidemiological survey research. Examples of areas of concern to policymakers include treatment-seeking patterns, access to care at points of service in public health and social service systems, evidence-based practices, workforce development, and the complexities of reimbursement. In responding to data on systemic barriers to care, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has sought to promote a no wrong door strategy to address the needs of persons with co-occurring disorders (CODs) involving their mental health and substance use.