Texas Department of State Health Services

Program Description

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is funding the Texas Department of State Health Services (InSight) $3.5 million per year for 5 years to implement screening, brief intervention, referral, and treatment in community clinics, school clinics, and hospitals within the Harris County Health District.

Program Model

Screening

Health care professionals conduct screening using the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) quantity and frequency question, single substance use question (SSUQ) related to drug use, the CAGE-AID (CAGE Questions Adapted to Include Drugs) and a tobacco use question.

After screening, health care professionals provide brief advice and positive screens are referred to InSight Specialists for further assessment.

Brief Intervention

InSight Specialists complete a brief assessment using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST).

Brief interventions are conducted using the Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu, Empathetic, Self-Efficacy (FRAMES) model.

Patients receive brochures (available in a variety of languages), including information about substance use disorders and InSight contact numbers.

Brief Treatment

Patients with substance abuse receive up to 12 treatment sessions at HCHD clinics or at the Houston Council on Alcohol and Drugs. Brief treatment uses Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET).

Referral

Patients dependent on alcohol or drugs are linked with the Council for further assessment, referral, and placements.

Service Features

  • The InSight Clinic provides primary care to patients in addition to InSight brief intervention and treatment.
  • The InSight Hotline allows providers and patients to access program services 24-hours a day.
  • Services are provided in school-based clinics.

InSight Partners

  • Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
  • Harris County Hospital District (HCHD)
  • Houston Council on Alcohol and Drugs (the Council)
  • Baylor College of Medicine
  • UT Health Sciences Center Houston (UTHSC)
  • UT Austin Addiction Research Institute (UTARI)

InSight Services in Harris County Hospital District

  • All About Recovery
  • The Next Step
  • The Turning Point
  • Volunteers of America
  • Incentives
  • Career and Recovery Resources
  • Montrose Counseling Center
  • Unlimited Visions
  • Cheyenne Center
  • Santa Maria
  • TRS Next Step for Men
  • TRS Next Step for Women
  • Riverside
  • Houston Recovery Campus
  • Harris County Psychiatric Center
  • Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Program Effectiveness

As of July 3, 2008, a total of 86,957 patients have received services through this project. Of these, 13.0 percent (11,312) screened positive and received an intervention and/or additional services for substance use.

TX SBIRT services as of July 3, 2008:

  • Screened 67,136 patients
  • Provided brief intervention to 11,312 patients
  • Provided brief treatment to 4,020 patients
  • Referred 4,489 patients to treatment

Contact Information

Tamara Allen, Project Director
Texas Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 206-5897
tamara.allem@dshs.state.tx.us