RISKY BEHAVIORS

-Drinking more than three alcoholic drinks in one setting

-Mixing over-the-counter medication with prescribed medication

-Mixing herbal remedies with prescribed medication

-Engaging in unsafe sex practices

What is BRITE?

BRITE is an acronym for Brief Intervention and Treatment for Elders. The Florida BRITE Project began in 2004 as a pilot program to address the substance abuse issues of Florida’s elder population. There are multiple BRITE sites throughout Florida. SWFAS BRITE counselors offer evidence-based screening, brief intervention, and referral services to people aged 55 and older presenting with behaviors that are dangerous to one’s health. These behaviors may center around tobacco, alcohol, prescription, and over-the counter medications, or illicit drugs. The SWFAS BRITE Project serves individuals in Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties.

Goals of BRITE

The main focus of our program is on “problematic use”, use that may cause life problems either financially, socially, legally, and healthwise, and to help “at risk” individuals avoid addiction and dependence through an early assessment and brief intervention.
This is achieved by:

  • Identifying substance misuse through screening
  • Providing a brief educational intervention to individuals presenting with risky behaviors around the use of substances,
  • Providing linkages and referral to those individuals with dependency and/or depression issues.

To assess if someone is misusing their medication, find out the following:

  • Does the person have difficulty recalling the purpose of one or more of their medications?
  • Does the person report the wrong dose or amount of one or more of their medications?
  • Do they take one or more medications for the wrong reasons or symptoms?
  • Do they need education and/or assistance on proper medication use?
  • Do they have episodes of falling or appearing confused?

If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this program, please fill out the referral form (click here and go to the referral form)

If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this program, please fill out the referral form (click here and go to the referral form)

Links:

Community Resources, Links and Information contained under our different Programs and Services are being provided as a convenience and for information purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Southwest Florida Addiction Services (SWFAS) of any of the products, services or opinions of the organizations. SWFAS bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of these services, sites or their subsequent links. Contact the individual service or external site for all concerns regarding their content.