Substance Use Screening Among Adolescents: National Dental Practice-Based Research Network Survey.

PURPOSE: To conduct a national survey of practicing dentists assessing their current knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors related to substance use screening implementation among their adolescent patients.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional, regionally representative, electronic survey of 751 practicing dentist members of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. The survey instrument, the Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) Screening Survey assessed dentists' knowledge, opinions, and current practice behaviors related to screening for substance use (i.e., tobacco/nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, and illicit drug) disorders, offering brief counseling regarding substance use behaviors, and referring patients for treatment related to their substance use.

RESULTS

Survey respondents were predominantly male (61%), White (67%), and in a private practice setting (81%). Fewer than half of dentists (40.5%) reported screening for adolescent nicotine/tobacco use at least annually, whereas approximately one-third of dentists reported screening at least annually for other substances of abuse. Approximately, half of dentists who screen reported never providing counseling/education regarding adolescents' positive screens for alcohol (48.5%), cannabis (52.7%), and illicit drug use (55.4%). Rates of referral to specialty care were low. Associations between barriers, stigma, and practice behaviors are reported.

DISCUSSION: This is the first national study of dentists' SUD screening, counseling and referral practices among adolescent patients. Although current rates are low, a substantial proportion of dentists indicated willingness to screen, counsel and refer adolescents for SUD and endorsed surprisingly low rates of stigma and high ratings of relevance to their practice.