Substance abuse and dependence treatment in outpatient physician offices, 1997-2004.
OBJECTIVE
To examine patient, physician, and visit characteristics associated with treatment for substance abuse during outpatient physician visits.


METHODS
Secondary data was obtained from the 1997-2004 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.


RESULTS
A substance abuse diagnosis was recorded in .9% of general and family practice visits, .8% of internal medicine visits, and 5.1% of psychiatry visits. Multivariable logistic regression found that women, elderly, non-White, and established patients were less likely to be given a substance abuse diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased screening, particularly of existing patients, may lead to decreased gender, age, and racial disparities in diagnosis and treatment.
School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA. jbanta@llu.edu
Jim E
JE
Banta
Susanne
S
Montgomery
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010824:Physicians' Offices / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology