STAT

For the first time, U.S. panel recommends screening adults for illicit drug use

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says it's a good idea for doctors to ask their adult patients about illicit drug use when effective treatment and care are available.
With effective treatments for for addiction, such as methadone, it's now time to screen adults for illicit drug use, says the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

As new ways to identify and treat people who use opioids and other drugs emerge, an independent panel of experts is recommending that health care providers screen their adult patients for illicit drug use.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has determined, for the first time, that there is enough evidence to state with “moderate certainty” that screening adults for illicit substance use is overall beneficial.

What the panel means by “screening” means a physician asking a patient a series of questions. The answers can indicate who might need to be offered or referred support. It does not include drug testing. “Screening tools are not meant to

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from STAT

STAT1 min read
Opinion: Free Tuition Won’t Fix Medicine’s Diversity Problem Without Admissions Reform
A second New York medical school is going tuition-free in hopes of improving diversity. But more changes are needed.
STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About Abortion Pill Arguments, A Merck Drug Approval, And More
U.S. Supreme Court justices focused on plaintiffs' right to sue the FDA to reinstate restrictions on a commonly used abortion pill, suggesting they are unlikely to restrict access.
STAT2 min readAddiction
STAT+: The Methadone Clinic Monopoly: Opioid Treatment Chains Backed By Private Equity Are Fighting Calls For Reform
Private equity’s surging interest in the methadone treatment industry adds a new layer to the fraught and fast-shifting debate over access to addiction medications.

Related Books & Audiobooks