Paper Example on SBIRT: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment

Introduction

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an approach used to reduce and prevent problematic issues that are related to the use and abuse of illicit drugs. It is known as an initial screening standard for drug abuse (Strobbe, Perhats & Broyles, 2013). The main objective for SBIRT is to identify people who are either at high or moderate risks of their health problems that are related to their substance use. It identifies and assesses high dangers of drug abuse such as tobacco use. It uses integrated steps to solve drugs related problems before they become dependent to people.

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The Problem, SBIRT Training On The Problem, And Specific Statistics From The Community Related To The Problem

Tobacco is a drug which is prepared by curing the leaves of a tobacco plant. Generally, the use of tobacco is increasing day by day in all countries. However, its usage is leading to most of the diseases which affect both lungs and heart. From statistics, the majority of tobacco users begin to abuse tobacco at their early adulthood (Teo et al., 2016). It is quite difficult for an individual to withdraw from smoking due to some key motivation factors such as withdrawal symptoms and negative reinforcements. Some research asserts that the most common factors leading people to smoke tobacco are cigarette advertisements.

According to U.S census, the prevalence of tobacco use among the U.S youths and adults is highest among the citizens living at Midwest. For instance, in the Midwest, the percentage of tobacco users in the south and west is 22.2% and 22.7% respectively ("CDC - Tobacco-Related Disparities - Tobacco Use by Geographic Region - Smoking & Tobacco Use", 2018). People living in south and north of Midwest are more impacted by tobacco use more than individuals living in other areas. Most of the smokers in such regions smoke 15 or even more pieces of cigarettes per day. The following chart shows current data regarding tobacco use among U.S adults in the Midwest geographical area respectively ("CDC - Tobacco-Related Disparities - Tobacco Use by Geographic Region - Smoking & Tobacco Use", 2018).

Reasons Why Tobacco Use Is a Problem in the Community

Tobacco use is associated with addiction and several health problems. For instance, most the tobacco users exhibit poor health outcomes than non-users. From various data, tobacco use has about 18% to 20% higher rates of causing lung and throats cancers (Stiby et al., 2015). More so, tobacco use is associated with an approximate of 15000 deaths in every year. About three-quarters of a million individuals admitted in hospitals area s a result of tobacco use. Additionally, tobacco use may be a problem in the community. People who use tobacco on a regular basis are prone to develop tolerance to the impacts of nicotine. As a result, they always need to use more tobacco to achieve the same effect.

People who are dependent on tobacco use always feel an urge to use it when socialising with their friend or while in the specific surrounding. The smells from tobacco significantly affect people who are within once they breathe the smoke from cigarettes and tobacco users. Such situations may irritate their nose and eyes and can cause health problems such as lung and heart cancers. More so, tobacco use is associated with laziness and lack of concentration. As a result, tobacco users contribute to a lot of tensions and worries to the members of the community.

How SBIRT Is Used With Tobacco Use as a Problem and Specific Steps That Are Used

SBIRT can be used to solve addiction and problem on tobacco use. However, the SBIRT approach works through an integration of various steps. The first step is known as screening. Screening involves identifying who is using tobacco (Graham et al., 2016). Through a screening process, individuals can identify a better intervention and treatment required. The step also involves an application of specific tools or just by asking tobacco users questions to learn more about the current conditions of the person using tobacco.

The other step involved in the SBIRT approach is the brief intervention. The brief intervention involves sessions that are motivational and focused on creating awareness regarding tobacco use. Brief intervention is tailored to work as a stand-alone treatment assist individuals who are at high risks of tobacco use. The third step is known as referral to treatment (Graham et al., 2016). Referral to treatment intervenes to assist individuals whenever brief intervention fails to work as expected. It is a more extensive treatment which a provider offers with higher and specialised intervention skills. For tobacco users, it can be in the form of individual counselling, quitline and an internet program.

Description of a Video That Demonstrates SBIRT Related To the Tobacco Use Addiction

The video involves two characters, a college student and a primary care physician. The video shows a physician doing a brief intervention with an individual who has undergone a complete screening for tobacco use (UMBCtube, 2011). The individual tells the physician that he had been using tobacco while still in high school. The physician goes ahead to inquire more information from the addict so that he can provide the necessary care services. At last, the physician gives the addict pieces of advice on some of the thing he can do to withdrawal from using tobacco. The addict agrees with the physician's advice, and he is ready to change his smoking habits.

Specific Questions That Are Used

There are several questions that are asked regarding the use of SBIRT approach to address the problems of tobacco use. For example, is the SBIRT approach an intervention or is also a prevention-oriented approach? Who can use it? Who does the approach target? How does it work? When is the right time to use it? What evidence can support its success in solving the problem of tobacco use? An important benefit of SBIRT is to identify not only individuals who already are struggling out of tobacco abuse as well as those who are beginning to abuse it (Mitchell et al., 2016). Therefore, SBIRT is a prevention-oriented measure and also an intervention method of addressing issues on tobacco use.

Conclusion

Tobacco use is among the leading cause of health problems to many youths and adults. It has led to many deaths in the past few years. Therefore, its early time individuals should learn its adverse effects on their health and try as much as possible to withdraw from using it. In connection to that, the SBIRT approach has emerged as an important measure to assist individuals who are at higher or lower risks out of tobacco use. For instance, its integrated steps have played a significant role to ensure the number of tobacco addicts and victims have reduced drastically.

References

CDC - Tobacco-Related Disparities - Tobacco Use by Geographic Region - Smoking & Tobacco Use. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/disparities/geographic/index.htm

Graham, L. J., Davis, A. L., Cook, P. F., & Weber, M. (2016). Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment in a rural Ryan White Part C HIV clinic. AIDS Care, 28(4), 508-512.

Mitchell, S. G., Schwartz, R. P., Kirk, A. S., Dusek, K., Oros, M., Hosler, C., ... & O'Grady, K. E. (2016). SBIRT implementation for adolescents in urban federally qualified health centres. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 60, 81-90.

Stiby, A. I., Hickman, M., Munafo, M. R., Heron, J., Yip, V. L., & Macleod, J. (2015). Adolescent cannabis and tobacco use and educational outcomes at age 16: a birth cohort study. Addiction, 110(4), 658-668.

Strobbe, S., Perhats, C., & Broyles, L. M. (2013). Expanded roles and responsibilities for nurses in screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for alcohol use. Journal of addictions nursing, 24(3), 203-204.

Teo, K. K., Ounpuu, S., Hawken, S., Pandey, M. R., Valentin, V., Hunt, D., ... & Zhang, X. (2016). Tobacco use and risk of myocardial infarction in 52 countries in the interheart study: a case-control study. The Lancet, 368(9536), 647-658.

UMBCtube. (2011). SBIRT: Brief Intervention: Tobacco Use and Prescription Misuse. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6TqaI_wXzU