Screening for Unhealthy Drug Use: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine
• Substance Use Disorders

Background:

• Unhealthy drug use affects a significant portion of US adults and adolescents.
• Previous recommendations on screening for unhealthy drug use were from 2008.

Purpose of the Study:

• To update the 2008 recommendation on screening for unhealthy drug use.
• To review evidence on screening questions and interventions for unhealthy drug use in adults and adolescents.

Main Methods:

• Systematic reviews of evidence on screening for unhealthy drug use.
• Focus on primary care settings for adults and adolescents aged 12-17.
• Exclusion of individuals with diagnosed drug use disorders or currently in treatment.

Main Results:

• Moderate certainty that screening adults 18+ by asking questions about unhealthy drug use has a moderate net benefit.
• Benefits and harms of screening adolescents are uncertain due to lack of evidence.

Conclusions:

• USPSTF recommends screening adults 18 and older for unhealthy drug use via questions when appropriate services are available.
• USPSTF found insufficient evidence to assess benefits and harms of screening adolescents for unhealthy drug use.