Referral to treatment for hospitalized medical patients with an alcohol use disorder: A proof-of-concept brief intervention study

ABSTRACT

Substance misuse intervention in healthcare settings is becoming a US national priority, especially in the dissemination and implementation of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). Yet, the referral to treatment component of SBIRT is understudied. This proof-of-concept investigation tested an enhanced coordinated hospital-community two session brief intervention designed to facilitate the referral to treatment of hospitalized medical patients with an alcohol use disorder. Participants (N = 9) attended the second session of the brief intervention held in the community in most cases (56%), while one out of three (33%) received some level of post-brief intervention alcohol and/or other drug treatment. Alcohol use and alcohol-related problems also statistically improved. Based, in part, on the results plus the widespread dissemination of SBIRT, next step investigations of brief interventions to help bridge hospitalized medical patients in need to community substance abuse treatment are warranted.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol
• hospital and community
• psychosocial intervention

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the hospital social workers and community substance abuse counselors who made this study possible.

Funding

This study was funded by a Graduate School Research Committee Award from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to Dr. Berger.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by a Graduate School Research Committee Award from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to Dr. Berger.