Doctors Greatly Misjudge Teen Drug Problem

Many pediatricians can recognize when a teenage patient is using alcohol and other drugs, but the majority of them fail to realize how severe the problem actually is, Health Day News reported Nov. 1.

A study by the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research at Children's Hospital in Boston, Mass., found that doctors frequently underestimated the level and severity of adolescent drug use.

"This is important, of course, because it's these adolescents that, if they're recognized, can be referred or might benefit from early intervention services," said lead author Dr. Celeste Wilson, an investigator with the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research.

The study included 533 patients aged 14 to 18 who sought routine medical care, and their 109 medical-care providers. At the time of their visit, most of the teens were screened by their doctors for alcohol and other drug use. The American Medical Association recommends that healthcare providers conduct such screenings annually.

Following their visit, the researchers administered an Adolescent Diagnostic Interview, a questionnaire developed by Wilson for spotting drug addiction or misuse. The researchers then compared the clinical impressions made by physicians with the patients' actual diagnoses.

According to the study's results, of the 86 teens with a diagnosis of misuse or dependence, doctors correctly identified 75 percent as alcohol or drug users. However, the level of use among half of the patients was incorrectly reported as minimal.

The researchers concluded that physicians would be more effective in identifying the extent of a patient's drug use if they used a structured screening tool. In addition, Wilson said physicians should be more aware of counseling and treatment resources in their area so that they can make proper referrals.

"By getting them early intervention, then you will be preventing the sequelae of alcohol and substance abuse, including motor-vehicle accidents and addiction," Wilson said.

The study's findings are published in the November 2004 issue of Pediatrics.