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Screening and Brief Intervention for Trauma
Patients: COT Quick Guide [pdf]
A guide to assist Level I and II trauma centers incorporate alcohol screening and brief intervention as part of routine trauma care.
Substance Abuse Screening and Assessment Instruments Database
The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute at the University of Washington developed the database to assist treatment providers and researchers in finding appropriate instruments.
Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Curriculum Free web-based training curriculum geared toward generalist clinicians and developed by the Boston Medical Center.
NIAAA Alcohol Alert on Screening for Alcohol and Alcohol Related Problems
Published in April 2005, this Alcohol Alert from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism focuses on the use of routine alcohol screening in a variety of medical settings.
Screening is a quick, simple way to identify patients who need further assessment or treatment for substance use disorders. It does not establish definitive information about diagnosis and possible treatment needs. The goal of SBIRT is to make screening for substance abuse a routine part of medical care.
Biomarkers and Patient Reports
Screening in a medical setting involves at least two components: biomarkers and patient reports. Biomarkers are objective evidence that an individual may abuse drugs. These can be a simple positive drug screen or physical indications of potential abuse (e.g., liver disease). Patient reports are based on questionnaires designed to get a "big picture" of the individual's substance use and to identify potential red flags.
Screening Instruments
A number of substance abuse screening instruments have been developed, and the use of instruments may vary based on State or local regulations, reimbursement policies, or personal preference. Ideally, all agencies within a particular health care system should use the same screens, scored the same way, and administered in the same way. A screen should be simple enough that it can be administered by a wide range of health professionals. It should focus on the substance use severity (primarily consumption patterns) and a core group of associated factors such as legal problems, mental health status, educational functioning, and living situation. The client's awareness of the problem, feelings about his or her substance use, and motivation for changing behavior may also be solicited.
Three commonly used screening instruments are:
- Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)
- Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST)
- Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST)
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