Changing the trajectory of substance use and depression beyond the formative years: The virginia screening, brief intervention, & referral to treatment project

Abstract

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an important secondary prevention strategy to address substance use and depression risk beginning in youth and continuing across the lifespan. Ten healthcare settings in Virginia implemented the SBIRT model between 2017 and 2020. A total of 65,315 participants ages 18 and older were universally screened to determine the severity of their substance use and depression and offered a risk-informed intervention. 12.7% of individuals endorsed some level of risky substance use and 4.5% screened positive for depression overall (11.1% in the outpatient setting). 10% of all brief intervention recipients were enrolled for follow-up screening 6 months later. Younger adults had significantly greater prevalence of risky drug use and depression compared to older age groups while middle-age adults displayed higher prevalence of moderate to severe alcohol risk, highlighting the need for early intervention among younger adults. Significant reductions were observed in risky alcohol use (52.2%), as well as illicit drug use (44.7%) and depression (63.0%).