When screening results suggest that someone may have a substance use disorder or other moderate or severe mental health diagnosis, longer-term or more intensive treatment is often indicated.
While there has been substantial research on BIs, comparatively little research has been conducted on the best way to refer a patient to treatment. However, there is some evidence that a “warm handoff” may be effective in some circumstances [2]. A warm handoff involves directly facilitating the patient’s initial meeting with a treatment provider or organization and being present for the initial meeting, either in-person or virtually.
Another option that can be used in conjunction with a warm handoff is to conduct a BI where the focus is on reducing ambivalence to accessing treatment (e.g., instead of ambivalence to changing substance use behavior).