Substance Use Screening (SBIRT) for 7th Grade Students
March 16th - 20th, 2026
Massachusetts law (M.G.L. Chapter 71, Section 97) requires schools to offer verbal substance use screenings to support early identification, education and prevention of substance abuse. Medfield School Nurses conduct these screenings in 7th and 9th grade using the SBIRT program (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment), developed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Click here for more information about the SBIRT screening program.
SBIRT screening is a confidential, one-on-one conversation between the school nurse and each student using the CRAFFT + N screening tool, the most widely used adolescent substance use screening tool in Massachusetts. The program is educational and prevention focused, not disciplinary.
Screening Schedule
7th grade SBIRT screenings will take place during health classes the week of March 16, 2026 on an individualized basis to protect student privacy. Parents may opt their child out of the screening and/or students may choose not to answer any or all questions. If you prefer to excuse your 7th grader from SBIRT screening, then please click here.
Supporting Healthy Conversations at Home
Families are encouraged to talk with their children about substance use. Adolescence is a critical period of brain development, and parental guidance is key in helping teens make healthy choices not to use drugs and alcohol. For ideas on how to begin these important conversations, please refer to this parent guide. Together we can make a difference in the health of our youth!
Please contact us in the Blake Middle School health office at 508-242-8554 if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Tricia & Meghan
Tricia Williams, BSN, RN, NCSN
Meghan Carlson, BSN, RN
School Nurses
Blake Middle School
24 Pound St.
Medfield, MA 02052
Office: 508-242-8554
Fax: 508-359-4863