Healthcare Providers

Physicians and other health care providers all can play a role in helping identify and prevent alcohol and other drug abuse. Screening for alcohol and other drug use is especially critical in pregnant women, children and adolescents.

Because about 70 percent of Americans visit their primary care physician at least once every two years, doctors are in a unique position to identify alcohol or drug abuse when it exists, help the patient recognize the problem, and arrange for appropriate treatment.

The following links lead to some helpful guides for including screening for alcohol and other drug use in routine health care exams.