About Us
Improving lives through mental health and addiction policy research.
Our Mission
The mission of the Johns Hopkins Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy (CMAP) is to improve the well-being of individuals and communities affected by mental health and substance use disorders. We bridge the gap between research and mental health and addiction policy by providing evidence-based guidance to decision-makers at local, state, and federal levels.
Welcome to the Johns Hopkins Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy (CMAP)
At CMAP, we are dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with mental health and substance use disorders through policy research. Growing up with two psychotherapists as parents—my mother specializing in mental health and my father in substance use disorder—I witnessed firsthand the profound impact that effective behavioral health treatments and prevention strategies can have. I also became aware of the many system-level and policy barriers that people face: fragmented care, insurance hurdles, stigma, and the misalignment of overlapping systems that often fail those in need.
Our team—comprising faculty, staff, and trainees—shares a commitment to the belief that sound policy can make a tangible difference for individuals and communities. Equally important is our dedication to rigorous research to determine which policies are effective and which are not. Our experts include economists, health services researchers, statisticians, health policy specialists, bioethicists, clinicians, and more. Our research employs a wide array of methods, including quantitative studies using large-scale administrative data, qualitative approaches, and rigorous mixed-methods designs.
I encourage you to explore our work, attend one of our events, or reach out to me or any member of the CMAP team to learn more about how you can engage with our research efforts.
Best regards,
Matthew Eisenberg, PhD
Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Faculty
Director, Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy
History of the Center
The Johns Hopkins Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy (CMAP) was established in 2015 by Professors Elizabeth Stuart and Colleen Barry to address the critical need for well researched policy solutions in the areas of mental health and substance use. Recognizing the growing crisis driven by mental illness and addiction, CMAP set out to bridge the gap between academic research and actionable policy.
Since its founding, CMAP has grown into a nationally recognized hub for research on mental health and addiction policy. The Center brings together experts from diverse fields to tackle pressing challenges such as disparities in behavioral health outcomes, addiction treatment access, and the integration of mental health services into broader healthcare systems. With funding from federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and major foundations, CMAP leads several high-profile projects aimed at transforming both practice and policy.
Key to its mission is translating research into real-world impact, whether through collaborations with policymakers or educational initiatives that develop the next generation of policy leaders. As CMAP approaches its 10th anniversary in 2025, it remains a driving force in shaping public policy research and advancing solutions for mental health and addiction in communities across the U.S.
The Center at a Glance
33
Core faculty members
150+
Annual peer-reviewed papers
20+
Grants funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including R01s, R21s, and two T32 Training Programs
25+
Grants funded by foundations including: de Beaumont, the Commonwealth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the Bloomberg American Health Initiative