Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment—also known as SBIRT.
SBIRT is an evidence-based practice used to identify, reduce and prevent problematic use, abuse and dependence on alcohol and drugs.
SBIRT consists of three major components:
Screening: A healthcare professional assesses a patient for risky substance use behaviors using standardized screening tools. This identifies the appropriate level of treatment.
Brief Intervention: A healthcare professional engages a patient showing risky substance behaviors in a short conversation, providing feedback and advice. It is a practice to encourage individuals to change their behavior by helping them understand the risks they are putting themselves in.
Referral to Treatment: A healthcare professional provides a referral to brief therapy or additional treatments to patients who screen in need of additional services.
Primary care centers, hospital emergency rooms, trauma centers and other community settings provide opportunities for early intervention with at-risk substance users before more severe consequences occur. The primary goal is to reduce the harms and costs associated with risky use such as disease, accidents and injuries, rather than just identifying alcohol or other drug-dependent individuals. The SBIRT process provides information and assistance that is fitted to the individual’s needs.
Born Drug-Free TN’s “Preventing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Through Assessment and Physician Guidance” training is on Tuesday, November 10 from 5 P.M. to 8 P.M. This training will equip doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and office staff to understand the disease of addiction, recognize the risk factors and causes of NAS, understand the process of SBIRT and learn ways to implement and administer brief interventions. This activity has been approved for 3 CME credits by the Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University. Cost to attend is $30 and dinner will be provided.
To register, email Devin at dpayne@metrodrug.org or call 865-588-5550 by November 6.
This event is FREE for nursing and nurse practitioner students, but please register if you plan to attend.
