Half of Youth-Focused Clinicians Routinely Screen for Substance Use Disorders During Well Visits

A recent study published online on May 20, 2025, in JAMA Network Open reveals that just over half of clinicians who serve young patients report routinely conducting screening for substance use disorders (SUDs) during every well visit. The research, led by Kathleen Ragan-Burnett from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the CDC, analyzed responses from 1,047 youth-serving healthcare providers. Findings indicate that 60.6% of these clinicians regard SUD diagnosis as relevant to their practice, and 76.4% encounter at least one adolescent with an SUD each month.

Despite the importance of early detection, only 56.9% of clinicians report screening all adolescents at each visit. Notably, pediatricians show a higher screening rate, with 69.2% conducting SUD screening at every well visit. However, utilization of standardized screening tools is less common, with 39.3% of providers employing such tools and only 30.7% offering comprehensive services including screening, brief intervention, and referral to specialized treatment.

Experts suggest that enhancing education and implementing system-level practices could significantly improve screening rates. Increased efforts may help healthcare providers deliver timely guidance and connect youths with necessary treatment services, ultimately aiming to address the rising concerns related to adolescent substance use.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-youth-clinicians-screen-substance-disorder.html