title: Identifying substance abuse in primary care.
abstract: Family physicians have an opportunity to identify substance abusers years before they have medical complications or present for drug treatment. Occult substance abuse can be effectively identified by simple screening questions and careful attention to clinical indicators during the history and physical examination. Early intervention may have dramatic effects on substance-abusing behavior and may prevent the many adverse medical, psychologic and social effects of substance abuse in these patients.
mesh_terms: D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D015995:Prevalence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology