Does Screening for Alcohol and Drug Use Sabotage Sober Living? Here's What the Research Suggests

Up until recently, our knowledge about the effectiveness of screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) interventions has been fairly limited. In the first well-controlled multi-site randomized control trials conducted by the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA) they evaluated the efficacy of SBIRT vs Health Education (HI) in reducing both alcohol and other drug use in mental health treatment settings. 

The research trial contained a total of 718 participants split between the two approaches SBIRT (354) and HI (364), and monitored over a 12 month period with 3 month follow-up intervals. The results showed that those participating in the screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment approach were likely to have fewer heavy drinking days and fewer days of stimulant use at the 3 month period in comparison to the health education condition. However SBIRT did not report to reduce the days of cannabis use at the 3 month follow-up. They go on to conclude that screening and brief intervention for unhealthy alcohol and drug use in mental health treatment settings were effective at reducing the frequency of heavy drinking and stimulant use.

For each 3 month follow-up period, the screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment had much better participation and follow up rates as opposed to health education. This goes to show, that active participation and friendly drug and alcohol monitoring demonstrates a more constructive approach to the recovery process.

This method is applied very effectively with self-governed sober living, however depending on the dynamic of the house it may not be necessary for everyone. To access the complete data from the SSA trial, follow the link below.

Effect of screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment for unhealthy alcohol and other drug use in mental health treatment settings: a randomized controlled trial

About Sober Scientific 

Sober Scientific is the nation's #1 low cost supplier for rapid drug testing kits. At Sober Scientific each product has a purpose. We are pioneering the scientific approach to sobriety with a wide-range of top quality testing supplies to detect the latest trends of drug abuse within minutes. We offer affordable products designed to increase accountability and aid in the recovery process. Our outreach program is focused on building local partnerships and coordinating investment efforts back into rehabilitation & sober living solutions for those affected from drug abuse. Our focus is built on customer-driven initiatives that enhance cost savings, increase sustainable sobriety, and streamline supply chain efficiencies.