title: Effectiveness of brief interventions as part of the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model for reducing the nonmedical use of psychoactive substances: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the effectiveness of brief interventions (BIs) as part of the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model for reducing the nonmedical use of psychoactive substances.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bibliographic databases (including MEDLINE, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycINFO to April 2012) and gray literature sources were searched. We included randomized controlled trials that opportunistically screened adolescents or adults and then provided a one-to-one, verbal BI to those at risk of substance-use harm. Of interest was the nonmedical use of psychoactive substances (for example, drugs prohibited by international law), excluding alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. Interventions comprised four or fewer sessions and were compared with no/delayed intervention or provision of information only. Studies were assessed for bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results were synthesized narratively. Evidence was interpreted according to the GRADE framework.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 8,836 records. Of these, five studies met our inclusion criteria. Two studies compared BI with no BI, and three studies compared BI with information only. Studies varied in characteristics such as substances targeted, screening procedures, and BI administered. Outcomes were mostly reported by a single study, leading to limited or uncertain confidence in effect estimates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Insufficient evidence exists as to whether BIs, as part of SBIRT, are effective or ineffective for reducing the use of, or harms associated with nonmedical use of, psychoactive substances when these interventions are administered to nontreatment-seeking, screen-detected populations. Updating this review with emerging evidence will be important.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  CRD42012002414.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), 75 Albert Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5E7, Canada. myoung@ccsa.ca.
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galipeau
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pirie
authors.forename: Chantelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garritty
authors.forename: Kavita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yazdi
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golfam
authors.forename: Misty
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porath-Waller
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arratoon
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haley
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.forename: Rhoda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reardon
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sproule
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grimshaw
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs