Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment
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Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a public health approach to getting early intervention and treatment services to people with substance use disorders. It also helps those at risk of having these disorders.
Primary care centers, emergency rooms, and other treatment settings use SBIRT with at-risk substance users. The goal is to step in before something severe happens. SBIRT includes:
- Screening—Quickly looks at how severe the substance use is. Finds the most fitting level of treatment.
- Brief intervention—Works on increasing insight and awareness of substance use. Motivates the person to change behaviors.
- Referral to treatment—Provides those who need more treatment with access to specialty care.
Learn more about which provider types and settings can give SBIRT services in Wisconsin. View ForwardHealth Update 2009-96 (PDF)
Wisconsin SBIRT training program
As of September 15, 2023, the Wisconsin SBIRT training program is unavailable. We are working to resolve issues identified with the previously posted videos and related content. The Wisconsin SBIRT training program will be republished here when the issues have been resolved. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Related resources
- SBIRT Coding, Billing, and Reimbursement Manual (January 2019) (PDF)
- Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth – A Practitioner’s Guide
- Systems-Level Implementation of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment
- Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Adults: Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions