 What Is Screening and Brief Intervention?
Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) is a structured set of questions and a brief follow-up discussion between a person and a counselor or health care provider designed to address alcohol use problems.
A screening instrument is used to ask people (after they agree to be questioned) how much and how often they drink. Counselors and health care providers (and others trained in SBI techniques) evaluate answers to see if they indicate an alcohol misuse or abuse problem. If the subject screens positively, the counselor or health professional can share the screening results and their significance with the subject.
Brief interventions are short, 10- to 15-minute motivational interviews that encourage people to create a plan of action, from reducing their drinking to seeking substance abuse treatment, based on their willingness to change their drinking behavior.
Screening and brief intervention:
- Is designed for use by counselors and health care professionals who do not specialize in addiction treatment;
- Is a self-centered methodology that uses motivational techniques based on the person’s readiness to change; and
- Gives feedback and recommendations respectfully, without judgment or accusations, in the form of useful information.
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