Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT): Best Practices for the Prevention and Treatment of Risky Drinking in Girls/Women of Childbearing Age Now Available Online

The Winter 2020 Issue of Practice Perspectives is now available online:

Women are the fastest growing group of alcohol users in the United States. High-risk drinking among women, defined as more than three drinks a day or more than seven drinks per week, increased by 58 percent over the last 10 years, while alcohol use disorders (AUDs) rose by 84 percent. These significant increases pose serious health consequences for women, who have a more rapid progression to alcohol-related problems and AUDs than men. Women who drink are also at risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancy, a leading preventable cause of birth defects and lifelong disabilities.

As one of the largest groups of behavioral health providers, social workers play a vital role in screening women for alcohol use, performing evidence-based interventions to reduce risky alcohol-use, and making referrals or delivering treatment for risky drinking.

NASW, along with other leading medical organizations, are members of the Collaborative for Alcohol-Free Pregnancy, a cross-discipline initiative of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In partnership with the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute at The University of Texas at Austin’s Steve Hicks School of Social Work, NASW is working with the Collaborative to address risky drinking among women by improving practice, education and awareness among healthcare professionals.

This article summarizes a recent literature review of alcohol screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for girls ages 12 and older and women of childbearing age published in Alcohol Research: Current Reviews.1 Through this overview of screening instruments, brief interventions, an implementation issues, social workers can determine best practices for preventing and treating risky drinking in women.

You can find the full text for “Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)” Practice Perspectives here.