Emergency department screening and interventions for substance use disorders

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Emergency Medicine
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Emergency departments (EDs) are crucial access points to healthcare.
• Historically, EDs were not recognized for addressing substance use disorders (SUDs).
• Recent decades show growing recognition of EDs' role in SUD identification and linkage to care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evidence for ED-based interventions for the spectrum of SUDs.
• To explore screening, psychosocial, and pharmacological interventions within ED settings.
• To examine the linkage to treatment for various SUDs, including alcohol, opioid, and tobacco use.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature.
• Analysis of studies on ED-based screening and interventions for SUDs.
• Evaluation of treatment linkage strategies originating from the ED.

Main Results:

• Evidence supports ED-based screening and interventions for a range of SUDs.
• Psychosocial and pharmacological approaches show promise in ED settings.
• Despite challenges, EDs present significant opportunities for improving SUD patient care and treatment access.

Conclusions:

• EDs are vital for identifying and initiating care for patients with SUDs.
• Further research is needed to address knowledge gaps and methodological challenges.
• Robust opportunities exist for EDs to enhance comprehensive SUD care.