Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to
Treatment (SBIRT) UPDATED Questions
and CORRECT Answers
What is SBIRT? - CORRECT ANSWER - its a comprehensive, integrated, public health
approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment services for people with substance
use disorders and those at-risk of developing them
What does SBIRT mean? - CORRECT ANSWER - -Screening
-Brief Intervention
-Referral to Treatment
Screening - CORRECT ANSWER - procedure to evaluate probability of a person having a
substance use disorder or being at risk for negative consequences due to use of alcohol/drugs
Brief intervention - CORRECT ANSWER - -any time-limited effort to provide: info or
advice, increase motivation to avoid substance use, or teach behavior change skills to reduce
substance use and chances of negative consequences
-typically delivered to persons at low to moderate risk
referral to treatment - CORRECT ANSWER - -when screening identifies person already
having substance-related health problems or SUD needing formal diagnosis and possible
treatment referral
-referral process facilitates access to care (including brief treatment) beyond Brief intervention
SBIRT is... - CORRECT ANSWER - -based on public health principles
-designed to reduce the burden of injury, disease and disability associated with misuse of alcohol,
illicit drugs, prescription medications and tobacco
, GOALS of SBIRT - CORRECT ANSWER - -encourage healthcare providers to screen and
provide advice or counseling to their patients who misuse alcohol or other drugs
-to influence risky behavior patterns and reduce exposure to the negative consequences of misuse
-improve linkages between general community health care and specialized substance abuse
providers to facilitate access to care when needed
Why is Alcohol mostly focused on in SBIRT? - CORRECT ANSWER - -hystorically,
SBIRT was developed and tested with people at risk for heavy/problem drinking
Where is SBIRT being used? - CORRECT ANSWER - -primary care
-community health centers
-trauma centers
-hospital emergency rooms
-and many more places
The components of SBIRT - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. screening is rapid, proactive
procedure to ID people who may have or may be at risk for having an alcohol/drug problem
2. brief intervention focuses on increasing client awareness of his/her own substance use and
motivation to change
3. referral to treatment provides clients who require more extensive treatment with access to
specialty care
Who gets screened? - CORRECT ANSWER - -done with EVERYONE (universal)
-no single "right way" to screen
does screening indicate whether someone is at risk or a diagnosis for a given condition? -
CORRECT ANSWER - -tells if someone is at RISK for a given condition
Screening basics - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. introduce the screen
2. be specific in your questions
Treatment (SBIRT) UPDATED Questions
and CORRECT Answers
What is SBIRT? - CORRECT ANSWER - its a comprehensive, integrated, public health
approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment services for people with substance
use disorders and those at-risk of developing them
What does SBIRT mean? - CORRECT ANSWER - -Screening
-Brief Intervention
-Referral to Treatment
Screening - CORRECT ANSWER - procedure to evaluate probability of a person having a
substance use disorder or being at risk for negative consequences due to use of alcohol/drugs
Brief intervention - CORRECT ANSWER - -any time-limited effort to provide: info or
advice, increase motivation to avoid substance use, or teach behavior change skills to reduce
substance use and chances of negative consequences
-typically delivered to persons at low to moderate risk
referral to treatment - CORRECT ANSWER - -when screening identifies person already
having substance-related health problems or SUD needing formal diagnosis and possible
treatment referral
-referral process facilitates access to care (including brief treatment) beyond Brief intervention
SBIRT is... - CORRECT ANSWER - -based on public health principles
-designed to reduce the burden of injury, disease and disability associated with misuse of alcohol,
illicit drugs, prescription medications and tobacco
, GOALS of SBIRT - CORRECT ANSWER - -encourage healthcare providers to screen and
provide advice or counseling to their patients who misuse alcohol or other drugs
-to influence risky behavior patterns and reduce exposure to the negative consequences of misuse
-improve linkages between general community health care and specialized substance abuse
providers to facilitate access to care when needed
Why is Alcohol mostly focused on in SBIRT? - CORRECT ANSWER - -hystorically,
SBIRT was developed and tested with people at risk for heavy/problem drinking
Where is SBIRT being used? - CORRECT ANSWER - -primary care
-community health centers
-trauma centers
-hospital emergency rooms
-and many more places
The components of SBIRT - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. screening is rapid, proactive
procedure to ID people who may have or may be at risk for having an alcohol/drug problem
2. brief intervention focuses on increasing client awareness of his/her own substance use and
motivation to change
3. referral to treatment provides clients who require more extensive treatment with access to
specialty care
Who gets screened? - CORRECT ANSWER - -done with EVERYONE (universal)
-no single "right way" to screen
does screening indicate whether someone is at risk or a diagnosis for a given condition? -
CORRECT ANSWER - -tells if someone is at RISK for a given condition
Screening basics - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. introduce the screen
2. be specific in your questions
