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New York State Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Implementation Manual

A teacher speaking to her middle school-aged students
Developing a resource to support SBIRT implementation in a variety of settings with diverse communities
  • Funder
    New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)
  • Dates
    July 2023 – October 2023

Problem

SBIRT is an evidence-based model for addressing substance use, yet organizations often struggle to implement it effectively. 

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based substance use prevention and early intervention model that incorporates universal screening to identify risk and brief intervention to reduce use and prevent more severe consequences. Referrals to substance use disorder treatment are provided when warranted. 

Though research has shown promising results in medical settings, organizations often struggle to implement it in real-world conditions including what to do following training, how to integrate these services into their existing workflow, and how to tailor their approach for different populations. In addition, the existing model does not account for how to reach those who do not typically seek traditional medical care, leaving a significant proportion of the population without services that could benefit their health and well-being. 

Solution

We developed a manual to guide a variety of medical, educational, and community-based organizations to implement SBIRT with diverse communities.

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) contracted with NORC to develop a manual that extends beyond medical settings to guide educational and community-based organizations in implementing SBIRT in several diverse communities with higher rates of substance use. With the recent push to build training capacity in New York, this manual moves organizations beyond skills development to real world implementation. The manual also acknowledges the need to implement SBIRT in the community to reach those who do not typically seek traditional medical care and provides targeted guidance based on the setting and communities served. 

Result

The manual will help facilitate sustainable implementation of SBIRT in a variety of settings and communities in New York State.

The SBIRT implementation manual is available on the OASAS SBIRT webpage and distributed as a part of certified SBIRT trainings across the state. Having tailored information and tangible action steps at the fingertips of trainees and organizations preparing to implement SBIRT will increase the likelihood that SBIRT will be implemented with fidelity, reach several diverse communities, and be sustained over time. 

Project Leads

“There are several SBIRT implementation manuals out there, but this one is novel in that it provides tailored guidance for settings and situations in which SBIRT is not typically implemented and for populations that often forego traditional medical care. The content is new, fresh, and actionable and will benefit any organization that is preparing to implement SBIRT.”

Senior Research Scientist

“There are several SBIRT implementation manuals out there, but this one is novel in that it provides tailored guidance for settings and situations in which SBIRT is not typically implemented and for populations that often forego traditional medical care. The content is new, fresh, and actionable and will benefit any organization that is preparing to implement SBIRT.”

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