Screening & Brief Intervention

Screening & Brief Intervention (SBI)

Screenings are procedures to recognize individuals with a substance abuse disorder or at risk for this disorder before obvious manifestations of the disorder are apparent. Not a definitive diagnostic tool, they can signal the need for further evaluation or a brief intervention.

What are Brief Interventions?
Brief interventions are a series of up to four short counseling sessions to discuss problem drinking and its health risks. These sessions may last from five to fifteen minutes each; the entire intervention doesn't usually take more than one hour.

Why do Screenings and/or Brief Interventions?
One in five men and one in ten women who visit their primary care providers meet the criteria for at-risk drinking, problem drinking or alcohol dependence. When patients are found to be at-risk or problem drinkers, health care providers can significantly reduce alcohol use and health related problems by providing Screenings and/or Brief Interventions.

Recommended Steps
Recommended screening and brief intervention procedures include four steps:

CAGE
The CAGE instrument has been shown to be both sensitive and specific to identifying persons who meet criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence.

Questions asked include, In the past year:

Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?
Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
Have you ever felt Guilty about your drinking?
Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover (Eye-opener)?

One or more “yes” responses constitutes a positive screening test.

For more information, explore this publication from the current Montana SBI (RT) project or the links below.

Free, quick & easy online screening tool | Visit the SAMHSA SBI resource page
Hospital Interventions More Effective for Inpatients with Unhealthy Drinking Habits

Alcohol & Drug Services of Gallatin County
(406) 586-5493