Project ASSERT

Project ASSERT (Alcohol and Substance Use Services, Education, and Referral to Treatment) provides screening and brief intervention to patients in BMC's Emergency Department. Project ASSERT's team members counsel patients whose alcohol and/or drug use was directly and indirectly implicated in their need for emergency services.

Project ASSERT is a nationally recognized, evidence-based program uses motivational interviewing to encourage patients and family members to seek care for risky use of substances. It also helps patients access primary care, clinical preventive services, and treatment for alcohol and substance use disorders. Project ASSERT was the first nationally cited Emergency Department program to deploy peer counselors/educators as motivators and navigators to identify and intervene with patients with substance use disorders. These peer professionals, recruited from communities served by BMC, play a vital role in bringing their expertise, life experience, service network contacts and a nonjudgmental, respectful approach to patients struggling with addiction.