This national study of over 1,000 youth-serving clinicians reveals a critical gap between recommended practice and reality: while most providers report screening adolescents for substance use at well visits, only 39% consistently use a validated screening tool. These findings underscore a missed opportunity to identify and intervene early with at-risk youth—and highlight the urgent need for broader adoption of evidence-based approaches like SBIRT in pediatric and primary care settings.
Ragan-Burnett K, Schieber L, Terranella A, Mikosz C. Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Among Youth-Serving Clinicians. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(5):e2511579. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.11579