Dr. Yngvild Olsen Becomes SAMHSA’s New Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
In the recovery industry, professionals admire the distinguished career of Dr. Yngvild Olsen within the addiction treatment field. Thus, she is a perfect choice by SAMHSA to become the new Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). While doing her best to expand access to care, Dr. Yngvild Olsen also focuses on enhancing the quality of care for patients. Thus, her values align with the mission of Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) to provide integrated healthcare options.
As expressed in our website’s tagline, “We provide whole-person healthcare through our integrated programs of primary medical and behavioral healthcare.” Thus, the professional and compassionate healthcare recovery options at TTC are congruent with the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) mission. The question is how best to provide quality healthcare to diverse populations, promoting the ideal goal of universal access.
The Distinguished Career of Dr. Yngvild Olsen
Beginning her career as the Medical Director for the Johns Hopkins Hospital’s outpatient substance use treatment services, the career of Dr. Yngvild Olsen grows by actively giving back to the community at large. She also works as a full-time Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Later, Dr. Yngvild Olsen serves as the Vice President of Clinical Affairs for the Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems. As the local addiction authority for Baltimore City, the agency plays a central role in expanding buprenorphine treatment for opioid addiction. Hence, Dr. Yngvild Olsen helps boost access to MAT services in both specialty treatment and general ambulatory medical systems.
From 2011 to 2021, Dr. Yngvild Olsen serves as Medical Director for the Institutes for Behavior Resources/REACH Health Services. As a comprehensive outpatient SUD treatment program in Baltimore City, it provides MAT services in outpatient settings. Like TTC, Dr. Yngvild Olsen believes in the continuing evolution of MAT services. After all, there is no question that medications for addiction treatment save lives in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Dr. Yngvild Olsen and SAMHSA’s Mission
As part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA), the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is a critical player in defining innovative treatment options. As former vice president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Dr. Yngvild Olsen joins the board of Stop Stigma Now. This advocacy group focuses on reducing the stigma of substance use disorders. After all, if treatment is effective, the focus needs to be on integrated healthcare options. Indeed, there is no place for stigma in modern addiction treatment.
Dr. Yngvild Olsen has written and lectured extensively on opioid use disorder and its treatments in past years. She is at the forefront of discovering clinical and policy solutions to the overdose epidemic. As the new Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, she relishes the opportunity to provide care for people with substance use disorders as an addiction medicine specialist.