Substance Use Services at Child Psychiatry Access Programs.

PURPOSE: As a potential model for expanding youth access to substance use care, we examined substance use resources provided by child psychiatry access programs (CPAPs)-statewide or regional services offering behavioral health consultation and education to pediatric primary care providers.

METHODS

We assessed US and Canadian CPAP websites for available substance use resources (screening tools, educational materials, clinical pathways; n = 58) in 2025. We compared to resources for depression using McNemar's test.

RESULTS

Thirty-four (58.6%) CPAPs offered any substance use resource; 13 (22.4%) provided substance use clinical pathways. In contrast, 43 (74.1%) CPAPs provided depression resources; 26 (44.8%) included depression clinical pathways (χ2 = 9.00, p = .003 and χ2 = 13.00, p = .000, respectively).

DISCUSSION: Over half of CPAPs provided resources for managing substance use, although most emphasized screening and provided limited treatment guidance. The quality of resources was limited compared to depression, suggesting an opportunity to expand guidance to primary care providers managing adolescent substance use.