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SAMHSA Press Releases
 
Date: October 11, 2006
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press
Telephone: 240-276-2130
   
 

$54.6 Million for Cooperative Agreements for Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT)
 

The Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) today jointly announced the award of four cooperative agreements totaling $54.6 million over five years for its Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT) program for persons with substance use disorders. This brings the total of SBIRT awards to states and tribal organizations to 11. An additional 12 brief intervention grants have been made to colleges and universities to integrate screening and brief intervention into their student health programs. 

Under the most recent SBIRT awards, states will work to expand their continuum of care for persons at risk for or diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder to include screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment. These services are performed in general medical and other community settings, such as community health centers, nursing homes, schools, student assistance programs, occupational health clinics, hospitals and emergency departments.

“Screening and intervention for alcohol and drug use problems for people in general health settings can be and should be as routine as screening for heart disease and diabetes,” said Assistant Surgeon General Eric Broderick, DDS, MPH, Acting Deputy Administrator of SAMHSA. “The SBIRT program helps reduce the risk for drug and alcohol abuse through brief interventions and acts as a doorway to specialized care for those who need it.  Early detection and referral can help promote positive behavior change early on before the problem gets worse.”

John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy, said, “The SBIRT program can help us dramatically improve the quality of public health and our healthcare system.  Engaging the entire medical community in the early detection of and intervention against drug abuse supports our efforts to reduce the disease of addiction and can help change the face of this problem for generations to come.”

The four awards are for up to $2.8 million per year in total costs for up to 5 years of funding.  Continuation of these awards is subject to both availability of funds and progress achieved by awardees.

This year’s grantees:

State of Colorado, Denver – $2,800,000 in funding in its first year to develop a comprehensive system of general medical care providers and specialists based in hospitals and community- and school-based clinics to more effectively identify the treatment needs of individuals with substance abuse disorders, creating a bridge between the general medical and substance abuse treatment delivery systems.  Special emphasis will be placed on brief intervention and brief treatment models for individuals who, while abusing substances, have not developed substance dependency.  As warranted, continued support will be made available at the most appropriate level of care for those in need of treatment.

Florida Department for Children and Families, Tallahassee  -- $2,800,000 for the first year to implement a substance abuse screening and intervention program for older adults by partnering with primary care and emergency physicians who come into contact with older adults who are at risk for or experiencing substance abuse problems. Older adults will be screened and provided brief interventions in such non-specialty sites as primary and emergency health care settings, senior nutrition programs and public health clinics, broadening the base of an existing, evidence-based pilot program of brief interventions that specifically targets older adults.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, Boston –  $2,800,000 in the first year to expand and enhance the continuum of accessible substance abuse treatment services by institutionalizing screening and brief interventions in primary care settings – including emergency departments and neighborhood health centers – through the MA-SBIRT screening, brief intervention and treatment program.

State of Wisconsin, Madison -- $2,363,458 in first year funding to support the delivery of substance abuse screening, brief intervention, referral and treatment services in primary healthcare settings across the state, utilizing the chronic care model and recommendations of the Institute of Medicine.  The project will emphasize development and ongoing improvement of durable, drug-free lifestyles for both adolescents and adults at an initial 22 primary clinical sites and, ultimately, throughout the state as a whole.

 
 
 
   
 

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

 
 
   

SAMHSA is An Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Service