California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs

Program Description

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is funding the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (CA SBIRT) $3.485 million per year for 5 years to reduce substance use by screening and providing brief intervention and brief treatment to nondependent adult substance users in Federally Qualified Health Centers, emergency departments/trauma centers, and primary care clinics.

Program Model

Screening

Peer health educators conduct screening using the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST).

Brief Intervention

Brief intervention is conducted by peer health educators using the Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu, Empathy, Self-Efficacy (FRAMES) model, along with motivational interviewing to raise patients' awareness of the risks of their substance use, assess their motivation for change, and help them make a commitment to use self-management skills to change their use.

Brief Treatment

Brief treatment consists of six to twelve sessions by SBIRT-trained counselors for those individuals who, based on an assessment, will be able to resolve their AOD problems through brief treatment services.

Referral

Patients identified with possible Substance Dependence Disorders are told about their advanced level of risk. They are then referred to a specialist treatment provider for sequential assessment and the development of a treatment regimen in a clinically appropriate setting.

Service Features

  • Bilingual health educators and alcohol/drug counselors; English/Spanish interpretation for medical staff and patients.
  • On-site referral services; referrals/transportation of intoxicated/OD patients to sobering services.
  • Continued management support through telephone calls, e-mails, letters, or in-person contacts during medical visits.

Program Effectiveness

As of July 3, 2008, a total of 217,911 patients have received services through this project. Of these, 15.3 percent (33,279) screened positive and received an intervention and/or additional services for substance use.

CA SBIRT services as of July 3, 2008:

  • Screened 175,200 patients
  • Provided brief intervention to 33,279 patients
  • Provided brief treatment to 5,226 patients
  • Referred 4,206 patients to treatment

Contact Information

Michael Cunningham, Deputy
CASBIRT Project Director
California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs
1700 K Street, 5th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 322-7012
mcunningham@adp.ca.gov