SBIRT* Teaching Resources

Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)

More than half (52.7%) of Americans aged 12 or older report being current drinkers of alcohol, 25.2% report current use of a tobacco product, and 10.2% report illicit drug use (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2015). Nurses treating patients in a variety of healthcare settings will encounter individuals who use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a universal screening and prevention approach. An evidence-based practice, SBIRT targets individuals who use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs but do not meet criteria for a substance use disorder. Any level of drinking or drug use may complicate an individual’s health condition, work, and/or family life (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [CMS], 2016). SBIRT is an approach nurses can use to provide effective risk reduction and intervention prior to a patient’s need for more extensive treatment.

SBIRT Teaching Resources

The Substance Use Education for Nurses: SBIRT Curriculum has been used to successfully train over 800 undergraduate student nurses at the University of Pittsburgh. The SBIRT for Nurse Practitioner Students: Across the Lifespan has been used to successfully train over 550 graduate student nurses at the University of Pittsburgh. We provide the following resources with the hope you will utilize them to educate student and professional nurses, along with other healthcare professionals.

Please see sidebar links for resources for undergraduate nursing students, nurse practitioners students, nurse leaders, and other resources. 

Questions? 

Contact Ann Mitchell, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN: (412) 624-9005 or Brayden N. Kameg, DNP, RN, CARN