Introduction to and overview of SAMHSA and CSAT's Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment initiative

The SBIRT program represents a major advance in the basic philosophy of addressing substance use issues and the role of the treatment system. Because research has shown that Brief Intervention and Brief Treatment are effective across the spectrum of alcohol and drug problems, health workers and policy makers have increasingly focused on them to fill the gap between primary prevention efforts and more intensive treatment for persons with serious substance use disorders. Like other practices developed in tightly controlled research settings, it is important to understand how SBIRT will work best in various settings and under different approaches. It is also important to examine which models of SBIRT offer the greatest potential to improve the U.S. treatment system.

This presentation will discuss SAMHSA and CSAT's programmatic efforts to implement SBIRT at the Federal level including grantees' characteristics (i.e. different health care settings and populations served) and Federal activities on SBIRT in terms of program, funding, and future steps. CSAT provides grants leadership and technical assistance to support them throughout the challenges of implementing a large-scale initiative. By providing such guidance, CSAT has learned many lessons for SBIRT as a screening and treatment initiative as well as practical lessons for operating a nationwide grant program.