Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a structured set of questions designed to identify individuals at risk for alcohol use problems, followed by a brief discussion between an individual and a service provider, with referral to specialized treatment as needed. Screening asks several questions to determine whether individuals are misusing alcohol—that is, are they drinking too much, too often, or experiencing harm from their drinking. The provider evaluates the answers and then shares the results and their significance with the individual.

Brief interventions are counseling sessions that last 5 to 15 minutes. Their purpose is to increase the person’s awareness of his or her alcohol use and its consequences and then motivate the person to either reduce risky drinking or seek treatment, if needed. The provider works with the person on willingness and readiness to change his or her drinking behavior.

SBIRT is designed for use by service providers who do not specialize in addiction treatment, uses motivational approaches based on how ready the person is to change behavior, gives feedback and suggestions respectfully in the form of useful information without judgment or accusations, and has been shown by research to be effective in reducing alcohol use and alcohol-related adverse consequences, including injury.

Resources:

Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention: A guide for public health practitioners

Early intervention, treatment helps patients decrease substance abuse

FACT SHEET: Substance (Other Than Tobacco) Abuse Structured Assessment and Brief Intervention (SBIRT) Services

More patients or more competition? A physician believes widespread substance use screening in primary care will boost specialty treatment

Oklahoma hospital surveys on alcohol and drugs reach those ‘on the fringes’. read more

Taking on Substance Abuse in the Emergency Room: One Hospital’s SBIRT Story

Watch an actual brief intervention.

Contact:
Dane Libart, MSW
(405) 522-1440

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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Last update 7/27/2012