title: Substance screening and referral for substance abuse treatment in an integrated mental health care program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined rates of substance screening and referral for substance abuse treatment as part of an integrated care program providing mental health services to low-income patients in primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults (N=11,150) who were enrolled in the program between 2008 and 2010 were included. Primary outcomes included substance screening rates, treatment referral rates, and correlates of accessing recommended treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 7,513 (67%) participants were screened for substance abuse. Among the 2,856 (38%) participants with a positive screen, 1,344 (47%) were referred for treatment. After adjustment for covariates, accessing recommended treatment was associated with past substance abuse treatment history, alcohol use, heavy drug use, posttraumatic stress disorder, and number of follow-up contacts with a care manager.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study of a vulnerable population highlights missed opportunities for identifying and referring patients in primary care to substance abuse treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 1595 NE Pacific St., Box 356560, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. yfcuw@uw.edu
authors.forename: Ya-Fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Hsiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Nida
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sieu
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Unützer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014861:Washington; D055815:Young Adult