Doctors call for checks

An influential group of US health experts says doctors should screen all adults for use of illegal drugs.

The US Preventive Services Task Force says health providers should attempt to determine whether their patients 18 or older are using illicit drugs, including nonmedical use of prescription drugs.

This is the first time the panel has concluded there is enough evidence to support screening all adults. In 2008 it declined to do so.

The panel concluded that screening is effective when “services for accurate diagnosis of unhealthy drug use or drug use disorders, effective treatment, and appropriate care can be offered or referred”.

It cited the findings of a 2017 national survey that found 11.5 per cent of Americans 18 or older were using illegal drugs and data that showed 8.5 per cent of pregnant women aged 18 to 44 used drugs in the past month.

Among drug users aged 12 and over, 85.3 per cent said they used cannabis and 19.5 per cent used “psychotherapeutic drugs” including opioids and other pain relievers.

The panel suggested several questionnaires, administered by healthcare providers or taken by patients on their own, that it said were effective in picking up illicit drug use.

It warned primary care providers that “screening tools are not meant to diagnose drug dependence, abuse, addiction, or use disorders.

“Patients with positive screening results may therefore need to be offered or referred for diagnostic assessment.”