SBIRT Exam Study Guide Questions and
Answers
What does SBIRT stand for and what does each step entail? - Answer--screening:
universal assessment for substance (mis)use
-brief intervention: brief motivational and awareness-raising intervention for
risky/problematic users
-referral to treatment: may consist of brief treatment or alcohol other drugs (AOD)
treatment
What does screening give you info about? - Answer--the specifics of a client's
substance use
-risk level and how to address it (e.g., positive health message, brief intervention,
referral to treatment)
Low risk levels - Answer--men: 4 drinks/day; 14/week
-women: 3 drinks/day, 7/week
There has been a paradigm shift from _____ to _____ - Answer-detection of AUD to
identification of at-risk individuals
AUDIT pros/cons - Answer--validated in many settings
-in the public domain (free)
-can be self-administered
-doesn't assess drug use
-ambiguous time frame
-doesn't assess past treatment
AUDIT domains - Answer--hazardous drug use (q's 1-3)
-dependence symptoms (q's 4-6)
-harmful alcohol use (q's 7-10)
AUDIT cutoffs - Answer--0-3: low risk
-4-13: moderate risk -> conduct brief intervention
-14+: brief intervention and referral to treatment
DAST pros/cons - Answer--in public domain (free)
-sensitive
-doesn't assess alcohol use
-focuses on dependence
-doesn't distinguish (in)active use
-doesn't include frequency, quantity, pattern, duration, or type of drug used
DAST cutoffs - Answer-0: low risk, abstainer
Answers
What does SBIRT stand for and what does each step entail? - Answer--screening:
universal assessment for substance (mis)use
-brief intervention: brief motivational and awareness-raising intervention for
risky/problematic users
-referral to treatment: may consist of brief treatment or alcohol other drugs (AOD)
treatment
What does screening give you info about? - Answer--the specifics of a client's
substance use
-risk level and how to address it (e.g., positive health message, brief intervention,
referral to treatment)
Low risk levels - Answer--men: 4 drinks/day; 14/week
-women: 3 drinks/day, 7/week
There has been a paradigm shift from _____ to _____ - Answer-detection of AUD to
identification of at-risk individuals
AUDIT pros/cons - Answer--validated in many settings
-in the public domain (free)
-can be self-administered
-doesn't assess drug use
-ambiguous time frame
-doesn't assess past treatment
AUDIT domains - Answer--hazardous drug use (q's 1-3)
-dependence symptoms (q's 4-6)
-harmful alcohol use (q's 7-10)
AUDIT cutoffs - Answer--0-3: low risk
-4-13: moderate risk -> conduct brief intervention
-14+: brief intervention and referral to treatment
DAST pros/cons - Answer--in public domain (free)
-sensitive
-doesn't assess alcohol use
-focuses on dependence
-doesn't distinguish (in)active use
-doesn't include frequency, quantity, pattern, duration, or type of drug used
DAST cutoffs - Answer-0: low risk, abstainer
