What is SBIRT?

SBIRT stands for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment. SBIRT is a broad, public health approach to early intervention and referral to treatment for persons with excessive alcohol and drug use patterns, as well as those who are at risk of developing such problems. Medical settings provide “teachable moments” in which people may be particularly open to looking at and changing behaviors before they get worse.

Components of SBIRT:

• Universal Screening by trained Health Educators to quickly assess the alcohol and drug use risk level of patients awaiting care, and to identify the appropriate level of intervention.
  
  
• Brief Intervention focuses on increasing insight and awareness regarding alcohol and drug use with motivation towards behavioral change.
  
  
• Brief Telephone Counseling is available for those who want additional convenient support for changing their alcohol and drug use.
  
  
• Referral to Treatment provides those identified as needing more extensive treatment with confidential referrals to specialty assessment.