Washington Department of Social and Health Services

Program Description

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is funding the Washington Office of the Governor (WA SBIRT) $2.97million per year for 5 years to provide services for adults in Emergency Departments or trauma centers (ED) and other hospital departments located in the counties with high ED patient flows.

Program Model

Screening

Conducted by Chemical Dependency Professionals (CDPs) using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the shortened version of the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST 10).

Brief Intervention

Brief interventions are conducted immediately following the screening for those patients who score in the moderate or high-risk range.

Brief interventions are provided within the context of the motivational interviewing model designed to assist each patient in developing targeted strategies for behavioral change.

Brief Treatment

One to 12 sessions conducted by CDPs at local outpatient treatment facilities.

Uses the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse's Treatment and Assessment Report Generation Tool (TARGET), which incorporates the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine PPC-2R (Second Edition - Revised Patient Placement Criteria).

Referral

Chemically dependent patients are referred to a certified treatment provider for higher levels of care.

Service Features

  • The involvement of Chemical Dependency Professionals at every level of service provides for increased clinical expertise at each point of contact.
  • Linkages between screening sites and community provider agencies allow for the seamless transition of patients from screening, to brief intervention, to brief treatment, to traditional chemical dependency services.


WA SBIRT Hospital Sites

  • Harborview Medical Center
  • Southwest Washington Medical Center
  • Tacoma General Hospital
  • Allenmore Hospital
  • Providence Everett Medical Center
  • Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital
  • Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center
  • Toppenish Community Hospital
  • Providence St. Peter Hospital

WA SBIRT Specialized Treatment Agencies

  • Harborview Medical Center Addictions Program
  • Recovery Centers of King County
  • Thunderbird Treatment Center
  • Seattle Indian Health Board
  • Lifeline Connections
  • Northwest Recovery Center
  • The Center (Metropolitan Development Council)
  • Providence Everett Medical Center Recovery Program
  • Evergreen Manor, Inc.
  • Triumph Treatment Services
  • Merit Resource Services
  • Providence St. Peter Hospital

Program Effectiveness

As of July 3, 2008, a total of 89,901 patients have received services through this project. Of these, 23.4 percent (21,074) screened positive and received an intervention and/or additional services for substance use.

WA SBIRT services as of July 3, 2008:

  • Screened 54,994 patients
  • Provided brief intervention to 21,074 patients
  • Provided brief treatment to 5,429 patients
  • Referred 8,404 patients to treatment

Contact Information

Steve O'Neil, Project Manager
Department of Social and Health Services
DASA/WA SBIRT
P.O. Box 45330
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 725-3718
oneilsh@dshs.wa.gov