Substance Abuse Screening Program Grant - SBIRT (New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services)

Substance Abuse Screening Program Grant - SBIRT

Award Period: 5 years

Award Date: April 2, 2013

Geographic Scope: Trenton, NJ

Recipient: Trenton Health Team

Program Name

Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)

Purpose

To implement substance abuse screening and intervention programs across primary care clinics in Trenton, integrating substance abuse treatment into routine primary care similar to how diabetes and hypertension are treated.

Focus Areas

• Drug and alcohol screening for primary care patients
• Brief intervention (15-minute motivational conversations)
• Referral to treatment
• Training clinic employees on screening and counseling
• Reducing stigma of substance abuse treatment

Implementation Sites

• Henry J. Austin Health Center (three locations)
• Capital Health clinics
• St. Francis Medical Center clinics

Expected Outcomes

• Screen 8,750 people in first year
• Identify at-risk patients for substance abuse
• Provide motivational counseling interventions
• Facilitate referrals to treatment

Program Model

The SBIRT program has been used successfully in cities in Colorado, Massachusetts, Florida, and other states. Patients identified as being at risk for substance abuse will be referred to a healthcare educator who will conduct a brief motivational conversation about treatment options.

Background

The Trenton Health Team is an alliance of the Henry J. Austin Health Center, Capital Health, St. Francis Medical Center, and Trenton's Department of Health and Human Services.