Federal task force: All adults should be screened for illicit drug use

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended this week that that doctors screen all adults for use of illegal drugs (Source: “Health panel tells doctors: Screen all adults for illicit drug use,” Columbus Dispatch, Aug. 13, 2019).

The influential group of health experts 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 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.