Self-reported and Documented Substance Use Among Adolescents in the Pediatric Hospital

Source: 

Masonbrink, A. R., Hunt, J. A., Bhandal, A., Randell, K. A., Mermelstein, S., Wells, S., & Miller, M. K. (2021). Self-reported and Documented Substance Use Among Adolescents in the Pediatric Hospital. Pediatrics, e2020031468.

What’s Known on This Subject:

Adolescent substance use is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes; however, clinicians frequently miss opportunities for routine substance use screening. Adolescent hospitalizations represent prime opportunities to systematically screen for health risk behaviors, including substance use, and offer intervention.

What This Study Adds:

Nearly 40% of hospitalized adolescents report alcohol ever use; approximately one-third report ever use of marijuana, electronic cigarettes, or ≥2 substances. Positive substance use documentation is rare and often discordant with self-report, indicating missed opportunities for systematic screening in the hospital.