What Everybody Ought to Know About Alcohol and Drug Screening in Primary Care

In light of the recent findings from a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), we are able to gain a better understanding about the most commonly used screening methods for alcohol and drug use, and the best approach for implementing electronic health record-integrated screening.

The analysis was conducted for a period just short of 3 years, and contained over 93k patients in 6 separate primary care clinics. With a total of 72% of the patients completing screening, the findings suggest that patients could benefit from a substance use screen during any primary care visit and not just during their annual check-up. Additionally, self-administered screening and/or assessment tool was associated with a greater detection of unhealthy alcohol use vs when compared to staff-administered screening.

The study goes on the say that the rates of positive screening results in medical settings are typically lower, which might be associated with the patients hesitancy to disclose substance use. Additional adverse affects for this discrepancy could be the altering of screening questions from the staff to reduce perceived patient discomfort.

The use of Point-of-Care drug and alcohol screening tools could help alleviate this perceived discomfort, and outsource the diagnosis to an impartial third-party. To access the complete study, follow the link below.

Comparison of Methods for Alcohol and Drug Screening in Primary Care Clinics

About Sober Scientific

Sober Scientific is the nation's #1 low cost supplier for rapid drug testing kits. At Sober Scientific each product has a purpose. We are pioneering the scientific approach to sobriety with a wide-range of top quality testing supplies to detect the latest trends of drug abuse within minutes. We offer affordable products designed to increase accountability and aid in the recovery process. Our outreach program is focused on building local partnerships and coordinating investment efforts back into rehabilitation & sober living solutions for those affected from drug abuse. Our focus is built on customer-driven initiatives that enhance cost savings, increase sustainable sobriety, and streamline supply chain efficiencies.