Substance abuse and dependence treatment in outpatient physician offices, 1997-2004

To examine patient, physician, and visit characteristics associated with treatment for substance abuse during outpatient physician visits.

Secondary data was obtained from the 1997-2004 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

A substance abuse diagnosis was recorded in .9% of general and family practice visits, .8% of internal medicine visits, and 5.1% of psychiatry visits. Multivariable logistic regression found that women, elderly, non-White, and established patients were less likely to be given a substance abuse diagnosis.

Increased screening, particularly of existing patients, may lead to decreased gender, age, and racial disparities in diagnosis and treatment.