A promising approach to evaluate and intervene with adolescents
who are at risk for alcohol and drug use problems is to provide
screening, brief interventions and referral to treatment (SBIRT). SBIRT
is a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach to the
screening and identification of individuals engaged in risky alcohol
and drug use, and the delivery of early brief interventions to these people in order to reduce risky use (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2012). In 2003, SAMHSA's SBIRT
cooperative agreement with the States emphasized two specific areas
of research interest: (1) early detection and intervention (i.e.,
screening and brief intervention) for at-risk alcohol and drug use,
and (2) closing the treatment gap (e.g., brief treatment and referral to
treatment) for alcohol and drug use disorders