Offering simple, practical advice, this handbook helps primary care pediatricians effectively use the basic tools of addiction medicine to advance substance use prevention and to address substance use disorders (SUD) in their patients. Parents and teens often have questions about cannabis, nicotine, alcohol, and other substances. More than 8% of 12-to-18-year-olds in the United States have a SUD, making it one of the most common problems pediatricians will encounter in this age group. This guide offers pediatricians a solid grounding in the core concepts of addiction medicine and prepares them to answer common questions, counsel patients and parents, and use medications and laboratory tests effectively.
Organized by types of substance, each chapter offers clinical vignettes, an overview of each substance, clinical pearls, actionable advice, and clinical takeaways from each vignette. Topics covered include:
- Risk factors for SUD
- Screening, brief intervention, referral to treatment (SBIRT) framework
- Brief interventions
- Drug testing
- Alcohol
- Cannabis
- Nicotine
- Vaping
- Opioids
- Stimulants
- Hallucinogens
Primary care providers will also learn about supportive language, treatment levels, and how best to support adolescents with SUD and their families.