Strategies for Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Sustainability in the Emergency Department.

Abstract

Alcohol misuse remains the fourth leading cause of preventable death in the United States, with nearly 90,000 deaths occurring annually as a consequence of alcohol misuse. Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based strategy that includes initial screening using a valid tool, determining the need for intervention, a brief motivational interview, and referral to treatment leading to follow-up care when necessary. Although an abundance of evidence-based practices now exist as a guideline for quality patient care, an inconsistency persists between protocols supported by research and those actually integrated into daily clinical practice. Currently, there is little in the literature examining the sustainability of SBIRT programs in emergency departments. The authors examine challenges to SBIRT implementation in the emergency department and propose a number of strategies to ensure continued sustainability of this evidence-based practice.