ABSTRACT
This chapter is presented for the general physician called upon to evaluate a person who admits to substance abuse. The purpose may be required screening to enter a treatment program or consultation for overall health or a specific health problem. Alternatively, the patient may be seeking treatment of his or her abuse problem or consulting the physician to defuse a family crisis. The many medical and psychiatric crises that may be encountered are presented in detail in Chapters 17, 18, and 20. Here we review essential screening to identify important diseases that require early intervention, but we also wish to avoid unnecessary expense. Table 25 lists the major goals that are addressed in this form of screening.
