A national panel of health experts recommended physicians screen adult patients for illicit drug use, reports STAT.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued the proposed recommendation Aug. 13 in response to increasing rates of illicit drug use in the U.S.
The screening would entail a series of questions physicians could ask patients to help identify at-risk individuals. The recommendation would not include drug testing and does not apply to teenage patients.
The task force is accepting public comments on the proposed recommendation until Sept. 9.