Screening and brief intervention

Abstract

Abstract Screening for unhealthy substance use and provision of brief intervention are an effective way of increasing awareness of, and reducing, substance use and harm. Screening and brief interventions (SBIs) can be used to identify unhealthy substance use, offer early intervention, or provide brief treatment for a disorder which has become established. SBIs are among the most efficacious and cost-effective treatments for unhealthy alcohol use, particularly for adults in primary care settings. They are used in a range of other healthcare settings such as emergency departments and trauma units, though the evidence is less consistent. There is limited evidence for SBIs targeting cannabis use or psychostimulants in adults compared to no treatment, but they appear to be effective for reducing cannabis use in young adults. SBIs are effective for increasing abstinence and reducing benzodiazepine use in adults, but there is currently no evidence for SBIs targeting prescription opioid use. However, SBIs targeting multiple illicit drugs increase drug abstinence compared to no treatment. This chapter provides an overview of the evidence for SBIs in different substance types, and describes how to screen for and deliver a brief intervention for substance use.