Evaluation of a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program on alcohol use outcomes in a Georgia emergency department

SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) is a public health approach to addressing alcohol abuse and misuse. SBIRT programs identify individuals at risk due to their use, offer brief interventions, and, if appropriate, link individuals to additional treatment. The effectiveness of SBIRT programs in reducing alcohol abuse in Emergency Departments has been fairly well documented (Monti, 1999 Gentilello, 1999, Longaboaugh et al 2001, Spirito et al 2004). However, few effectiveness studies in Emergency Departments have utilized a control group (Madras, 2009), and several well-designed studies have reported null findings (Deappen et al 2007, D'Onofrio et al 2008, Aseltine et al 2010). Because of this, it is unclear which components of SBIRT are producing success.

This poster will assess the effectiveness of an SBIRT program (GA BASICS) which is being implemented at an urban hospital in Georgia and which enrolled a control group for comparison. A sample of 120 intervention and 500 control participants will be used to answer the question; Does the GA BASICS intervention contribute to reducing the amount of alcohol consumed by its participants? Preliminary results show that past 30 day mean drinking days were reduced from 10.8 days at baseline to 5.3 days at 6 months and mean binge drinking days were reduced from 8.5 days at baseline to 4.4 days at 6 months. When compared to controls, these results confirm that SBIRT services are an important public health approach to addressing at-risk drinking and to potentially preventing alcohol abuse or dependence.