Addiction treatment: level of care determination

Substance use disorders occur in 10% to 20% of patients presenting to the primary care physician. It is estimated that every fifth patient in a primary care practice has a substance use disorder. One of the challenges for the primary care physician after the initial assessment is a referral to the appropriate level of care. Substance abuse treatment is now a multibillion dollar industry, and there are a wide variety of options for those with resources. Most patients depend on community resources and state- and county-funded programs.