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Recent studies continue to highlight that Black, Native American, female, uninsured and Medicaid patients receive disproportionately more substance use screening when they are trauma patients. The authors of this paper point out that this inappropriate application of screening leads to missed opportunities.
“Screening patients for drug and alcohol use following injury is an evidence-based practice that can trigger wraparound care, such as brief substance use interventions, to prevent reinjury. Adolescents who consume alcohol but are not screened for alcohol use have 2- to 3- fold greater likelihood of reinjury compared with those who were screened and received a brief intervention.”
References
Sanchez JE, Stey AM. Persistent Inequity Plaguing Pediatric Trauma—An Opportunity for Health Equity Framework. _JAMA Netw Open._2024;7(10):e2436308. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.36308