Health panel tells doctors: Screen all adults for illicit drug use

[TexasTowelie]

WASHINGTON - An influential group of health experts recommended Tuesday that doctors screen all adults for use of illegal drugs, another step toward curbing the epidemic that claims tens of thousands of lives each year.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said that health providers should attempt to determine whether their patients 18 or older are using illicit drugs, including nonmedical use of prescription drugs. But the panel said it did not have enough information to decide whether all adolescents should be screened.

The recommendation 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 guidance is important because the Affordable Care Act requires that services recommended by the task force be covered free or with very small co-payments. The proposed recommendations are open for public comment until Sept. 9, after which the task force will consider them for final approval.

Read more: https://www.yourstephenvilletx.com/zz/news/20190813/health-panel-tells-doctors-screen-all-adults-for-illicit-drug-use

While there might be good intentions, this reeks of too much of intervention by Big Brother.

[Fullduplexxx]

1. Well this should get the kids to the polls

[Hoyt]

2. If the screen is just a question or two, where one can answer No, it's probably not

that bad.

But, I get the concern.

[flotsam]

3. I think they are talking piss test...

...because they say coverage will be extended under ACA. Very bad Ju-Ju. How many additional deaths when people ignore medical danger signs because they can't piss clean? And one bad test will be written down and alter how medicos treat you for the rest of your life! You're in great pain-let me check your chart-Whoops-that's very unfortunate...

[Hoyt]

5. This article says it's just questions, not drug tests.

"However, Karina Davidson, co-chair of USPSTF, noted that the task force is not recommending providers use drug tests to screen their patients. Instead, USPTF said providers could ask their patients a series of questions to determine whether they are using drugs illicitly."

https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2019/08/14/illicit-drug

[flotsam]

6. You are correct

How many users do you expect to admit it?

[Hoyt]

7. They probably preface the questions by saying help is available and covered.

But, you are right that someone who doesn't want help, or think they have a problem, isn't likely to answer Yes. Although, it might help folks down the road to call the practitioner for help if things get really bad, knowing it's available.

[flotsam]

8. I'm ok with that

But admitting to earlier alcohol addiction made it an MF to get pain pills even when I was hospitalized for 6 broken ribs.

[phylny]

4. My doctors ask if I'm using illicit/street drugs, and I'm not.

I'm not paying for an unnecessary test, though.