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. 2014 Sep;63(9):524–530.

Unhealthy drug use: How to screen, when to intervene

Aleksandra Zgierska 1,✉, Iliya Paul Amaza 1, Richard L Brown 1, Marlon Mundt 1, Michael F Fleming 1
PMCID: PMC4532724  PMID: 25353031

Abstract

Recognizing and helping patients at risk for a substance use disorder doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Here’s how to make screening and implementing a brief intervention a routine part of care.

PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS

› Implement screening and brief intervention (SBI) for unhealthy drug use among adults in primary care. C

› Consult the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Screening for Drug Use in General Medical Settings Resource Guide for step-by-step recommendations for implementing a drug SBI. C

Strength of recommendation

A Good-quality patient-oriented evidence

B Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence

C Consensus, usual practice, opinion, disease-oriented evidence, case series

CASE › Joe M, age 54, comes to your office for his annual physical examination. as part of your routine screening, you ask him, "In the past year, how often have you used alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons, or illegal drugs?" Mr. M replies that he does not use tobacco and has not used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons, but drinks alcohol weekly and uses cannabis and cocaine monthly.

If Mr. M were your patient, what would your next steps be?

One promising approach to alleviate substance use problems is screening and brief intervention (SBI), and—when appropriate—referral to an addiction treatment program. With strong evidence of efficacy, alcohol and tobacco SBIs have become recommended "usual" care for adults in primary care settings.1,2 Strategies for applying SBI to unhealthy drug use ("drug" SBI) in primary care have been a natural extension of the evidence that supports alcohol and tobacco SBIs.

Screening for unhealthy drug use consists of a quick risk appraisal, typically via a brief questionnaire.3-5 Patients with a positive screen then receive a more detailed assessment to estimate the extent of their substance use and severity of its consequences. If appropriate, this is followed with a brief intervention (BI), which is a time-limited, patient-centered counseling session designed to reduce substance use and/or related harm.4-6

So how can you make use of a drug SBI in your office setting?

Drug screening: What the evidence says

Currently, evidence on drug SBI is limited. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against universal drug SBI.4,7,8 The scarcity of validated screening and assessment tools that are brief enough to be used in primary care, patients' use of multiple drugs, and confidentiality concerns likely contribute to the relative lack of research in this area.3,6,9

To our knowledge, results of only 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of drug SBI that included universal screening have been published in English. Here is what these researchers found:

Bernstein et al10 investigated the efficacy of SBI for cocaine and heroin use among 23,699 adults in urgent care, women's health, and homeless clinic settings. They randomized 1175 patients who screened positive on the Drug Abuse Screening Test11 to receive a single BI session or a handout. At 6 months, patients in the BI group were 1.5 times more likely than controls to be abstinent from cocaine (22% vs 17%; P=.045) and heroin (40% vs 31%; P=.050).

Zahradnik et al12 examined the efficacy of SBI in reducing the use of potentially addictive prescription drugs by hospitalized patients. After researchers screened 6000 inpatients, 126 patients who used, abused, or were dependent on prescription medications were randomized to receive 2 BI sessions or an information booklet. At 3 months, 52% of patients in the BI group had a ≥25% reduction in their daily doses of prescription drugs, compared to 30% in the control group (P=.017),12 However, this difference was not maintained at 12 months.13

FAST TRACK

Screen patients by asking, "In the past year, how often have you used alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons, or illegal drugs?"

Humeniuk et al14 evaluated the efficacy of SBI among primary care patients ages 16 to 62 years in Australia, Brazil, India, and the United States who used cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, or opioids. Patients were screened and assessed using the World Health Organization Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST).15 Patients whose scores indicated they had a moderate risk for problem use (N=731) were randomly assigned to receive a BI or usual care. At 3 months, patients in the BI group reported a reduction in total score for "illicit substance involvement" compared to controls (P<.001). However, country-specific analyses found that BI did not have a statistically significant effect on drug use by those in the United States (N=218), possibly due to protocol differences and a greater exposure to previous substance use treatment among US patients.14

Saitz et al16 investigated the efficacy of drug SBI among primary care patients (N=528) who had been screened using the ASSIST. The most commonly used drugs were marijuana (63% of patients), cocaine (19%), and opioids (17%). Patients were randomly assigned to a 10- to 15-minute BI, a 30- to 45-minute intervention, or no intervention. BI did not show efficacy for decreasing drug use at 6-month follow-up.

Roy-Byrne et al17 screened 10,337 primary care patients of "safety net" clinics serving low-income populations. Of 1621 patients who screened positive for problem drug use, 868 were enrolled and randomly assigned to either a BI group (one-time BI using motivational interviewing, a telephone booster session, and a handout, which included relevant drug-use related information and a list of substance abuse resources) or enhanced care as usual (usual care plus a handout). Over 12 months of follow-up, there were no differences between groups in drug use or related consequences. However, a subgroup analysis suggested that compared to enhanced usual care, BI may help reduce emergency department use and increase admissions to specialized drug treatment programs among those with severe drug problems.

FAST TRACK

Despite limited evidence, multiple professional organizations, including the AAFP, support routine implementation of drug screening and brief intervention in primary care.

In addition to these 5 RCTs, a large, prospective, uncontrolled trial looked at the efficacy of drug BI among 459,599 patients from various medical settings, including primary care.18 Twenty-three percent of patients screened positive for illicit drug use and were recommended BI (16%), brief treatment (3%) or specialty treatment (4%). At a 6-month follow-up, drug use among these patients decreased by 68% and heavy alcohol use decreased by 39% (P<.001). In addition, general health, mental health, employment, housing status, and criminal behavior improved among patients recommended for brief or specialty treatments (P<.001). Although this trial lent support for the efficacy of drug SBI in primary care, it was limited by the lack of a control group and low follow-up rates at some sites.

A step-by-step approach to drug screening

Although a variety of instruments can be used to screen and assess patients for unhealthy drug use, few have been validated in primary care (TABLE 1).11,15,19-27 Despite limited evidence, multiple professional organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians28 and the American Psychiatric Association,26 support routine implementation of drug SBI in primary care.

Table 1. Screening adults for unhealthy drug use: Instruments validated for primary care*.

Instrument Items Sensitivity (%) Specificity (%) PPV (%) NPV (%)
ASSIST15 8 54-9721,22 50-9621,22 NR NR
CAGE-AID25 4 70-7925 77-8525 NR NR
DAST-2011 20 55-8923 68-8623 74-7924 68-8424
Single Question Screen19,26 1 93-9720,27 79-9420,27 3820 NR
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ASSIST, Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test; CAGE-AID, Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener—Adapted to include Drugs; DAST, Drug Abuse Screening Test; NPV, negative predictive value; NR, not reported; PPV, positive predicitive value.

* Each of these instruments is in the public domain and available free of charge.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)'s Screening for Drug Use in General Medical Settings Resource Guide19 provides a step-by-step approach to drug SBI in primary care and other general medical settings. Primarily focused on drug SBI in adults, the NIDA guide details the use of the NIDA Quick Screen and the NIDA-Modified ASSIST (NM ASSIST). These tools are available as a PDF that you can print out and complete manually (http://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/nmassist.pdf) or as a series of forms you can complete online (http://www.drugabuse.gov/nmassist). The NIDA guide also conveniently incorporates links to alcohol and tobacco SBI recommendations.

What to ask first. Following the NIDA algorithm, first screen patients with the Quick Screen, which consists of a single question about substance use: "In the past year, how often have you used alcohol, tobacco products, prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons, or illegal drugs?" (TABLE 2).19,29-32

Table 2. The NIDA Quick Screen: A single-question initial screen for unhealthy substance use in adults19.

In the past year, how often have you used the following?* Patient response Next step in assessment
(positive initial screen)
Alcohol "Yes" to heavy drinking† Proceed with NIAAA Clinician's Guide recommended assessment29,31
Tobacco products "Yes" to any use Proceed with Helping Smoker's Quit recommendations30
Prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons "Yes" to any use Proceed with the NIDA-Modified ASSIST32
Illegal drugs
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ASSIST, Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test; NIAAA, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; NIDA, National Institute on Drug Abuse; SBI, screening and brief intervention.

* Possible responses are "never," "once or twice," "monthly," "weekly," or "daily or almost daily." A "never" response to all questions is a negative screen and completes the SBI process.

† Heavy drinking= ≥5 drinks/d for men or ≥4 drinks/d for women.

A negative Quick Screen (a "never" response for all substances) completes the process. Patients with a negative screen should be praised and encouraged to continue their healthy lifestyle, then rescreened annually.

For patients who respond "Yes" to heavy drinking or any tobacco use, the NIDA guide recommends proceeding with an alcohol29 or tobacco30 SBI, respectively, and provides links to appropriate resources (TABLE 2).19,29-32 Those who screen positive for drugs ("Yes" to any drug use in the past year) should receive a detailed assessment using the NM ASSIST32 to determine their risk level for developing a substance use disorder. The NM ASSIST includes 8 questions about the patient's desire for, use of, and problems related to the use of a wide range of drugs, including cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, hallucinogens, and other substances (eg, "In the past 3 months, how often have you used the following substances?" "How often have you had a strong desire or urge to use this substance?" "How often has your use of this substance led to health, social, legal or financial problems?"). The score on the NM ASSIST is used to calculate the patient's risk level as low, moderate, or high.

For patients who use more than one drug, this risk level is scored separately for each drug and may differ from drug to drug. Multi-drug assessment can become time-consuming and may not be appropriate in some patients, especially if time is an issue (eg, the patient would like to focus on other concerns) or the patient is not interested in addressing certain drugs. In general, the decision about which substances to address should be clinically-driven, tailored to the needs of an individual patient. Focusing on the substance with the highest risk score or associated with the patient's expressed greatest motivation to change may produce the best results.

CASE › Based on Mr. M's response to your Quick Screen indicating he drinks alcohol and uses illicit drugs, you administer the NM ASSIST to perform a detailed assessment. His answer to a screening question for problematic alcohol use is negative (in the past year, he has not had >4 drinks in a day). Next, you calculate his NM ASSIST-based risk scores for cannabis and cocaine, and determine he is at moderate risk for developing problems due to cannabis use and at high risk for developing problems based on his use of cocaine. You also note Mr. M's blood pressure (BP) is elevated (155/90 mm Hg).

Conducting a brief intervention

Depending on the patient's risk level for developing a substance use disorder, he or she should receive either brief advice (for those at low risk) or a BI (for those at moderate or high risk) and, if needed, a referral to treatment. Two popular approaches are FRAMES (Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu of Strategies, Empathy, Self-efficacy) and the NIDA-recommended 5 As intervention. The latter approach entails Asking the patient about his drug use (via the Quick Screen); Advising the patient about his drug use by providing specific medical advice on why he should stop or cut down, and how; Assessing the patient's readiness to quit or reduce use; Assisting the patient in making a change by creating a plan with specific goals; and Arranging a follow-up visit or specialty assessment and treatment by making referrals as appropriate.19

What about children and adolescents? Implementing a drug SBI in young patients often entails overcoming unique challenges and ethical dilemmas. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends SBI for unhealthy drug and alcohol use among children and adolescents,33,34 the USPSTF did not find sufficient evidence to recommend the practice.1,8,35 Screening for drug use in minors often is complicated by questions about the age at which to start routine screening and issues related to confidentiality and parental involvement. The Center for Adolescent Health and the Law and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism provide useful resources related to youth SBI, including guidance on when to consider breeching a child's confidentiality by engaging parents or guardians (TABLE 3).

Table 3. Resources.

NIDA Resource Guide
www.drugabuse.gov/publications/resource-guide
NIDA-Modified ASSIST
www.drugabuse.gov/nmassist
Coding for SBI reimbursement
http://beta.samhsa.gov/sbirt/coding-reimbursement
SAMHSA's Treatment Services Locator
http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov
NIDA's List of Community Treatment Programs
www.drugabuse.gov/ctn/ctps.html
SAMHSA Opioid Overdose Toolkit
http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA13-4742/Overdose_Toolkit_2014_Jan.pdf
Buprenorphine training program
www.buppractice.com
Center for Adolescent Health and the Law
www.cahl.org
NIAAA Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/practitioner/youthguide/youthguide.pdf
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ASSIST, Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test; NIAAA, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; NIDA, National Institute on Drug Abuse; SAMHSA, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Help is available for securing treatment, reimbursement

In addition to NIDA, many other organizations offer resources to assist clinicians in using drug SBI and helping patients obtain treatment (TABLE 3). For reimbursement, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has adopted billing codes for SBI services.36,37 The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator and NIDA's National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network List of Associated Community Treatment Programs can assist clinicians and patients in finding specialty treatment programs. Self-help groups such as Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholic Anonymous, or Self-Managment and Recovery Training may help alleviate problems related to insurance coverage, location, and/or timing of services. SAMHSA's Opioid Overdose Toolkit provides guidance to clinicians and patients on ways to reduce the risk of overdose. Physicians also can complete a short training program in office-based buprenorphine maintenance therapy to provide evidence-based care to patients with opioid dependence; more details about this program are available from http://www.buppractice.com.

FAST TRACK

Focusing on the substance with the highest risk score or associated with the patient's greatest motivation to change may produce the best results.

CASE › You decide to use the 5 As intervention with Mr. M. You explain to him that he is at high risk of developing a substance use disorder. You also discuss his elevated BP and the possible negative effects of drug use, especially cocaine, on BP. you advise him that medically it is in his best interest to stop using cocaine and stop or reduce using cannabis. When you ask Mr. M about his readiness to change his drug use, he expresses moderate interest in stopping cocaine but is not willing to reduce his cannabis use. At this time, he is not willing to discuss these issues further ("I'll think about that") or create a specific plan. You assure him of your ongoing support, provide him with resources on specialty treatment programs should he wish to consider those, and schedule a follow-up visit in 2 weeks to address BP and, if the patient agrees, drug use.

References

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