Developing an SBIRT Curriculum in Advanced Practice

Abstract

Credentialed social workers feel underprepared or lack training to intervene or even bring up and explore issues related to substance use. Given that professional social workers practicing in the field feel unprepared, social work students engaged in field practicums are even less prepared. Extensive literature detailing the importance of teaching evidence-based practice in social work supports the integration of evidence-based practice (EBP) into social work education. Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is an EBP model that can be incorporated into advanced practice curriculum to provide students with practical tools to explore risky substance use behaviors in their clients and is a meaningful addition to social work education. It was originally developed as a public health model for universal screening, secondary prevention, early intervention, and treatment within primary health-care settings. The goal of the method is to mitigate and prevent related health consequences, disease, accidents, and injury (SAMHSA, 2015) with the additional prospect of reducing costs related to mental health and behavioral health care, crime and incarceration, and loss of productivity. The integration of SBIRT into social work classroom education and internship practice provides social work students with skills that become incorporated into a repertoire of clinical proficiencies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)