Office Assessment of Substance Abuse and Addiction

Various factors prevent the primary care physician from implementing effective diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of substance abuse among adolescents, including time constraints, practice styles, inadequate reimbursement, and physician discomfort. The author examines the positive outcomes of physician involvement as well as the negative consequences of noninvolvement and recommends strategies and resources to aid the primary care physician in coping with adolescents suspected of substance abuse.