Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for offenders: protocol for a pragmatic randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based technique that, in some health-care settings, has been shown to cost-effectively reduce alcohol and drug use, research on the efficacy of SBIRT among criminal offender populations is limited. Such populations have a high prevalence of drug and alcohol use but limited access to intervention, and many are at risk for post-release relapse and recidivism. Thus, there exists a need for treatment options for drug-involved offenders of varying risk levels to reduce risky behaviors or enter treatment.

Methods/design

This protocol describes an assessment of SBIRT feasibility and effectiveness in a criminal justice environment. Eight-hundred persons will be recruited from a large

SUBMITTER: Prendergast ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3829109 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature