Screening

Drug Abuse

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
1996


Recommendation

There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening for drug abuse with standardized questionnaires or biologic assays. Including questions about drug use and drug-related problems when taking a history from all adolescent and adult patients may be recommended on other grounds.

All pregnant women should be advised of the potential adverse effects of drug use on the development of the fetus.

Clinicians should be alert to the signs and symptoms of drug abuse in patients and refer drug abusing patients to specialized treatment facilities where available.


Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2nd Edition
Screening for Drug Abuse, 1996 (PDF File, 134 KB)


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