Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)

Non-medical substance use is associated with s a significant public health burden in Canada. Early detection and/or treatment of risky substance use can dramatically improve outcomes for those who experience harms from the non-medical use of psychoactive substances. The Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model is a comprehensive, integrated approach for the delivery of early intervention and treatment services for individuals experiencing substance use-related harms, as well as those who are at risk of experiencing such harm.

The following tools and resources would be useful for any health care professional who wishes to enhance SBIRT-related skills:

• Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA)
  • Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral website
  • Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral: A Clinical Guide (2012)
  • Effectiveness of the SBIRT Model: systematic review protocol (2012)
•   National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)NIDA QuickScreen v 1.0 (2013)
  • NIDA Modified ASSIST Screening tool v 1.0
  • Screening for Drug Use in General Medical Settings: A Resource Guide for Providers
  • Screening for Drug Use in General Medical Settings: Quick Reference Guide (2011)
  • Evidence-Based Screening, Assessment & Drug Testing Tools
•  Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
  • SBIRT: Opportunities for Implementation and Points for Consideration
  • Systems Level Implementation of SBIRT: Technical Assistance Publication 33 (2013)
• National Center on Addiction & Substance Abuse (CASA)
  • SBIRT Implementation & Process Change Manual for Practitioners (2012)
•  National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA)
  • Alcohol Screening & Brief Intervention for Youth – A Practitioner’s Guide
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
  • Alcohol Screening & Counseling – An effective but underused health service (2014)
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
  • Screening & Brief Intervention Toolkit for College & University Campuses
• Youth
  • Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral for Alcohol Use in Adolescents: A Systemtaic Review (2012)
• Miscellaneous
  • A Single-Question Screening Test for Drug Use in Primary Care (2010)
  • Randomized controlled trial to evaluate screening and brief intervention for drug-using multiethnic emergency and trauma department patients (2013)
  • Screening and brief interventions for alcohol use in college health centers: A review (2010)
  • Alcohol screening and brief intervention in primary care: Absence of evidence for efficacy in people with dependence or very heavy drinking (2010)
  • Screening and Brief Intervention for Drug Use in Primary Care (2014)
  • Brief Interventions: Choosing an Approach (2009)
  • The Impact of Brief Alcohol Interventions in Primary Healthcare: A Systematic Review of Reviews (2013)