Substance Use Outcomes: Harborview Medical Center

Harborview Medical Center (HMC) is one of the nine hospitals in Washington State that agreed to participate in the Washington State Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (WASBIRT) Project which began in the spring of 2004. Through this project, chemical dependency counselors screen primarily emergency department patients for alcohol and drug use. Based on the patient's level of risk for substance use disorders, the counselor provides brief interventions to anyone at moderate or high risk levels. They also refer patients with more serious disorders to brief therapy or more traditional forms of chemical dependency (CD) treatment.