How Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment can Increase Access to Treatment

Illicit drug users are significantly more likely to be treated in emergency facilities or urgent care centers compared with nonusers. In 2006, in the U.S., over 1.7 million visits were associated with drug misuse or abuse – 31% of which involved illicit drugs. Many of these visits were made by populations that have little or no access to substance abuse treatment or do not yet acknowledge that they have a substance use disorder. Research has demonstrated that catching the substance user early in the process will curtail the advance of negative individual and social consequences and impede the progress of the disease from fully manifesting itself in substance dependency. In addition, new Health Care Reform legislation recognizes the effectiveness of screening, early intervention and referral to treatment by specifically including coverage for prevention services with no co-pay.

SAMHSA's Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment program has demonstrated the power such activity can have in getting people into treatment. By using simple techniques such as quick, validated screening leading to brief interventions for at-risk substance users in primary care settings, SBIRT programs have been able to expand access to treatment while reducing the overall cost of health care. SBIRT has demonstrated that it is particularly effective in reaching the most vulnerable populations, who traditionally slip through the cracks in the health care system.

The presentation will focus on SAMHSA's SBIRT program, including lessons learned and future direction.