Authors
Melissa C. Palmer, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Jordan Cooler, PharmD, BCPP
Amanda Stahnke, PharmD, BCACP
Reviewers
Jennifer Bean, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Kim Ehrhard, PharmD
Bryan Figler, PharmD
Citation: Patnode CD, Perdue LA, Rushkin M, et al. Screening for unhealthy drug use: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventative Services Task Force. JAMA. 2020;323(22):2310-2328.
The Problem
Nearly 1 in 8 Americans older than 12 used illicit substances in 2018, including misuse of prescription medications. In addition, almost 84% of those who would benefit from substance use treatment in the past year did not receive it. Thus, the importance of identifying and offering treatment should be a priority — particularly in primary care settings. However, there are many barriers to implementing unhealthy substance use screening including pervasive stigma, lack of clinician comfort, logistics, and limited knowledge of or avenues for treatment if unhealthy use is uncovered.
The US Preventative Services Task Force recently published an update to the 2008 recommendation on drug use screening. The update provides additional evidence not only for substance use screening (excluding alcohol and nicotine), but also interventions.
Top 10 Things Every Clinician Should Know about the USPSTF Report
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