In a first, U.S. panel recommends screening adults for illegal drug use

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is recommending for the first time that physicians screen adults for illegal drug use. The move comes amid continued efforts to identify substance use early on, whether it’s taking illicit drugs or taking prescription medications for nonmedical reasons. The panel decided against recommending such screening for adults nearly a decade ago, citing insufficient evidence to support screening. But the opioid epidemic in the U.S. continued to surge in that time: More than 70,000 people died of opioid overdoses in 2017. The USPSTF’s suggestions will be open for public comment until early September, at which point the expert panel will issue a final recommendation.