Hospital Drug Tests Far More Likely for Minority Teens

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 4, 2024.

By Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2024 -- Teens from minority groups seeking treatment at pediatric trauma centers are more likely than their white counterparts to be tested for drugs and alcohol.

That's the takeaway from a new study led by researchers at UCLA and Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

"While screening can positively affect patients if it is followed by counseling and treatment, it can also lead to negative consequences," said lead study author Dr. Jordan Rook, a resident in general surgery at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine.

His team found that injured teens who are Black, Hispanic or American Indian are more likely to be screened for substance use.

"We believe that existing guidelines on substance use screening may be inadequate to achieve equitable high-quality screening in adolescent trauma care," he said in a UCLA news release. "Stricter guidance and oversight and/or the implementation of universal screening protocols and equitable utilization of support services may be needed."

For the study, researchers looked at data on 85,400 trauma patients between the ages of 12 and 17 who were treated at 121 pediatric trauma centers. Of those, 67% were white, 82% were non-Hispanic, 72% were boys and 51% had private insurance.

In all, a quarter of them were tested for alcohol and 22% were tested for drugs, the study found.

Of note:

  • The odds of alcohol screening were 117% higher for American Indians than white patients, and 75% higher for drugs

  • Black patients were 8% more likely than white patients to be screened for alcohol and 13% more likely to be screened for drugs

  • Hispanic patients had a 20% higher likelihood of alcohol screening and were 12% more likely than white teens to be screened for drugs

  • Girls were 32% more likely than boys to be screened for alcohol and 28% more likely to be screened for drugs

  • Teens insured by Medicaid were 15% and 28% more likely to be screened for alcohol and drugs, respectively, than teens with private insurance

    • Researchers noted that it's unclear if the benefits of screening outweighed any potential harms. And the data don't indicate if tests led to any interventions or treatment.

    In addition, overall screening rates are likely to be higher because interview-based screening was not included in the data.

    Researchers next plan to investigate the impact of practices at individual hospitals and the accuracy and effectiveness of screening through interviews rather than biochemical testing.

    "These efforts seek to equitably increase substance use screening and support services for all adolescents," Rook said.

    The findings were published Oct. 4 in the journal JAMA Network Open.

    Sources

  • UCLA Health, news release, Oct. 4, 2024

    • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2024-10-05 06:00

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords