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

Training, Consultation and Technical Assistance for Healthcare Providers

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania provides SBIRT training, consultation and technical assistance to healthcare providers who wish to better integrate a brief yet effective alcohol and other drug screening and risk reduction technique within their practice.

SBIRT is a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment services for people with substance use disorders and those at-risk of developing them. Primary care, trauma centers, emergency departments, and other settings provide opportunities to intervene and reduce or eliminate risky alcohol and other drug use BEFORE more severe consequences occur.

The goals of SBIRT are:

• To encourage healthcare providers to screen and provide advice or counseling to their patients who misuse alcohol or other drugs
• To influence risky behavior patterns and reduce exposure to the negative consequences of misuse
• To improve linkages between general community health care and specialized substance abuse providers to facilitate access to care when needed