Screening & Brief Intervention

Screening and brief intervention are two separate skills that can be used together to reduce risky substance use. "Screening" involves asking questions about alcohol or drug use. A "brief intervention" is a negotiated conversation between professional and patient designed to reduce alcohol and drug use.

Not everyone who is screened will need a brief intervention, and not everyone who needs a brief intervention will require treatment. In fact, the goals of screening and brief intervention are to reduce risky substance use before people become dependent or addicted.