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Abstract #163297

Thomas Stegbauer, MBA¹, Erich Kleinschmidt, LICSW¹, Shannon Sommer², Valerie Naquin, MA², Jodi Trojan, MCJ³, Brandi Cage, MS⁴, Travette Nelson⁵, and Thomas M. Brady, MPH, PhD⁶. (1) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1 Choke Cherry Road, 5-1099, Rockville, MD 20850, (2) Connections SBIRT, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, 3600 San Jeronimo, Anchorage, AK 99508, (3) Sidetracks Consulting, 3754 Mitchell Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99709, (4) Psychology, Howard University, 525 Bryant St. NW, Washington, DC 20059, (5) The MayaTech Corporation, 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 900, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (6) Center for Community Prevention and Treatment Research, The MayaTech Corporation, 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 900, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301 587-1600, bradyt2@nida.nih.gov

Introduction: Connections SBIRT provides screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment services for adults in primary health care settings and generalist community settings in Anchorage, Alaska. The SBIRT program was developed by Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) in partnership with the Southcentral Foundation (SCF) and is funded by SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) for the period 2003 - 2008. The purpose of this paper is to describe the SBIRT model and share experiences and challenges implementing a screening and brief intervention program in Alaska. Program Model: The screenings are conducted by specialists using the AUDIT screening instrument and one drug use question. The brief intervention consists of up to five 15 minute sessions, occurring once monthly, using motivational interviewing and the FRAMES model (Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu of options, Empathy, and Self-Efficacy). Brief treatment consists of 6 to 8 sessions focused on building the client's motivation to quit, analyzing the client's drinking/drugging patterns, and identifying situations that may cause relapse. Results: As of January, 2007, Connections SBIRT screened 17,721 individuals: 13.9% were brief interventions, 2.3% were brief treatment, and 6.2% were referrals to specialty treatment programs. Discussion: Connections SBIRT has achieved a variety of accomplishments. In addition to its role as services provider, the group has also shared its experiences with other Native American organizations (for example, the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma) as well as presented findings to international audiences. Connections SBIRT has developed a unique program and served an important role in the community.

Learning Objectives:

• Name at least three widely used screening instruments for substance use disorders;
• Identify key components of brief interventions;
• Gain an understanding of one program's experiences serving American Indian and Alaskan Natives.

Keywords: Substance Abuse Assessment, Native and Indigenous Populations

Related Web page: sbirt.samhsa.gov/index.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.