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Agency Overview

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is responsible for providing services to Oklahomans who are affected by mental illness and substance abuse.  In fiscal year 2008, the department provided services to 64,465 individuals – an increase of nearly 3,600 individuals over the previous year.

The demand for public mental health services exceeds the capacity of the current treatment system.This has always been the case, but has been exacerbated in recent years due to a growing public awareness of mental illness and of the existence of effective treatment; rising healthcare costs; and the state’s growing substance abuse problem, particularly the brain-damaging use of methamphetamine and resultant psychotic behavior.   

Through the use of proven practices and expansion of community based services, the department will increase the effectiveness of services and continue to improve the efficiency of the delivery system. The department’s goal is to ensure access to appropriate care for all Oklahomans and the recovery of all served.

The ODMHSAS was established through the Mental Health Law of 1953, although publicly supported services to Oklahomans with mental illness date back to early statehood.

Until the mid-1960s, the primary means to treat mental illness was institutionalization in large state hospitals.  On an average day in 1960, nearly 6,400 Oklahomans were in the state's mental hospitals.

In the mid-1970s, the concept of "deinstitutionalization" prompted states to increase efforts to utilize outpatient services through Community Mental Health Centers.  This approach has proven to be an effective means of recovery and a less costly method to provide services as compared to long-term inpatient care in a hospital setting. 

Today, over 60,000 individuals receive services from the department each year.  Of those, only about 5 percent require hospital care.  The vast majority take part in mental health and substance abuse outpatient programs, targeted community based services, prevention efforts and educational initiatives.

In fact, Oklahoma has become a national leader in several areas of community based services including the implementation of programs for assertive community treatment, alternative criminal justice initiatives such as drug and mental health courts, and comprehensive services for children and families. 

In many ways, Oklahoma already is “ahead of the curve” in terms of treatment success for people with mental illness or substance abuse problems.  With a focus on community-based and proven practices, and emphasis on treatment across the lifespan, from children to the elderly, more Oklahomans with mental illness and substance abuse problems are being served than ever before.

Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
1200 NE 13th Street
PO Box 53277
Oklahoma City, OK  73152-3277
405-522-3908    405-522-3851 TDD    405-522-3650 Fax
Toll-Free, 24 Hours  1-800-522-9054 
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