Youth-Serving Clinicians Frequently Screen Adolescents for Substance Use Disorders

A recent study has revealed that slightly more than half of clinicians who work with youth consistently screen adolescents for substance use disorders (SUDs) during every well visit. This finding was published in the JAMA Network Open on May 20, 2025.

The research, conducted by a team from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, examined the practices of youth-serving clinicians in relation to screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for SUDs in adolescents. The analysis was based on survey responses from a sample of 1,047 clinicians who provide services to young people.

The study found that a significant majority of clinicians (60.6%) believe that having skills to diagnose SUDs is pertinent to their practice. Additionally, 76.4% of these professionals reported that they encounter at least one adolescent with a substance use disorder on a monthly basis.

When it comes to screening practices, 56.9% of the clinicians indicated they conduct screenings for SUDs at every well visit. The data revealed that pediatricians are more likely to engage in this practice, with 69.2% screening at every visit. In contrast, only about one-third of the clinicians (39.3%) reported using a standardized screening tool consistently, and just under one-third (30.7%) reported providing all components of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment.

The authors of the study suggest that enhancing screening rates through educational initiatives and changes in practice systems could improve the ability to provide anticipatory guidance and treatment for substance use disorders in clinical settings that serve youth.

This research highlights the ongoing need for systematic approaches in addressing substance use issues among adolescents, emphasizing the critical role clinicians play in early detection and intervention.