UNE’s Clay Graybeal presents substance use assessment and intervention training program

Clay Graybeal, Ph.D., M.S.W., professor in the University of New England School of Social Work, gave an invited presentation on April 20, 2017 at the 3rd Annual Interprofessional Education (IPE) Conference: “Integrated Substance Abuse Prevention and Care: When SBIRT meets IPE.” The conference was held in in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and was hosted by the Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University.

SBIRT stands for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral for Treatment. It is an evidence-based approach to substance use assessment and intervention. Graybeal serves as project director of the SBIRT training grant at UNE: “Collaborative SBIRT Training for Maine’s Future Health Profession Leaders.” The Grant is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and receives technical support from CSAT, the Center for Substance Abuse Training.

In its first year, the project has oriented more than 400 health professions students to SBIRT in the Westbrook College of Health Professions, College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Dental Medicine and College of Pharmacy. The project has enlisted more than 60 student leaders who receive additional training in motivational interviewing and leadership in an interprofessional context, along with supervised experience in the field in implementing the SBIRT model. The presentation emphasized the project's intent to increase the likelihood that no matter where or when patients and clients enter the health care system, they will have the opportunity to receive education, support, and treatment to address substance use risks, concerns, and consequences.

To learn more about the University of New England’s Interprofessional Education Collaborative visit www.une.edu/wchp/ipec

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions