News Release

HHS Announces $16.9 Million for Pennsylvania Brief Interventions to Deal with People at Risk of Dependence on Alcohol or Drugs

This cooperative agreement is designed to expand the continuum of care available to include screening, brief interventions, referrals and brief treatment.  The community and medical settings, such as schools and health clinics, will have the capacity to refer dependent persons to more intense specialized substance abuse treatment services, when needed. 

"This grant will make it easier for local professionals in Pennsylvania to offer a helping hand to those who engage in risky behavior involving alcohol and drugs," Secretary Thompson said.  "Left unchecked, these behaviors can lead to deeper dependency that makes recovery more difficult." 

John Walters, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, noted: “Prevention is a critical part of our balanced strategy.  Investments in prevention yield long-lasting payoffs in people’s lives and communities.  We also know that early intervention is critical.  Today’s announcement is in keeping with a new focus on encouraging people around young people to help them stop drug use before it becomes a problem.”

SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie presented a “big check” to Governor Edward G. Rendell today in a ceremony in the State House.  The initial award of $2,969,972 million by HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will be renewable by the state for up to five years, depending on outcomes and availability of funding. 

“This award will allow community health centers, school-based health clinics and student assistance programs, occupational health clinics, hospitals, and emergency departments to conduct brief interventions that can reorient many people away from behavior, that unchecked can lead to addiction,” Curie said.  “SAMHSA is helping states add brief interventions to their spectrum of care, so that substance abuse treatment is addressed before the patient needs residential care or intensive outpatient care, to overcome addictions to alcohol and drugs.”

The Pennsylvania Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral, and Treatment Initiative will expand the state’s continuum of care to enhance screening, brief intervention, referral, and treatment (SBIRT) in general medical and other community settings for adult patients (ages 18-65) with substance abuse and dependence disorders who reside in Allegheny, Philadelphia, Huntingdon, Juniata, and Mifflin counties. 

The application of the SBIRT approach in the proposed targeted areas and settings will utilize the oversight process of the Department of Health's Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs Single County Authority system and the continuum of care model established by the American Society of Addiction Medicine-based Pennsylvania Client Placement Criteria system.

The treatment services infrastructure within the designated counties will administer a service delivery model consisting of science-based screening, assessment, and brief interventions; level of care determinations; and facilitated referrals to improve patient access and retention within both general and specialized settings.  The implementation of the SBIRT model within the identified communities will improve the identification of substance misuse; decrease alcohol and drug use; increase the number of recommended treatment sessions within the recommended level of treatment; increase the lengths of stay in the level to which patients were referred; and increase the knowledge of clinical staff in a "one science" approach within both the general settings and specialized addictions treatment programs. 

Pennsylvania is expected to receive $3,461,430 in the second year, $3,477,286 in the third year, $3,493,219 in the fourth year and $3,499,605 in the last year.  The total over five years is projected to be $16,901,512.

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The agency is responsible for accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation’s substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health service delivery systems.

 

This page was last updated on 27 October, 2003
SAMHSA is An Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services