Screening and Brief Intervention: Making a Public Health Difference

December 2008 This report recommends the following for Health Care Settings: Don't expect primary care physicians to bear the sole responsibility for widespread public health implementation of screening and brief intervention (SBI) Involve specialty health providers to share the responsibility for providing SBI services Include SBI as part of medical school curriculum and residency training Use screening tools that emphasize ease of use, and integrate screening for alcohol and drug use with other routine preventive screenings Encourage professional associations to endorse SBI as routine health care practice Expand SBI beyond the health care system Repeal state insurance laws that . . .