New Policy Brief Helps Prepare Doctors to Screen Youth for Drug Problems

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a policy brief “Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment for Pediatricians” that is in line with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s recommendation to ensure that universal screening for substance use, brief intervention, and/or referral to treatment (SBIRT) become a part of routine and comprehensive pediatric care.

The non-use message should be reinforced by pediatricians through clear and consistent information presented to patients, parents, and other family members, the brief states.

To read the entire brief, which is offered in the journal Pediatrics for free, visit http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/128/5/e1330.short.