Datapoints: detection of substance use disorders in veterans affairs primary care clinics.

Abstract

1326 I primary care providers are being called on to screen for atrisk substance use. The literature documents the continuing struggle in primary care to incorporate such screening into routine care (1,2). The objective of this study was to investigate patterns of diagnosis of substance use disorders in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care clinics over the past several years. Specifically, we wanted to determine whether the mandatory implementation of the Prevention Index in 1999 had an impact on rates of diagnosis of substance use disorders. The Prevention Index includes a screen for at-risk drinking. Data on all primary care visits were gathered from the VA’s national outpatient service use database for five fiscal years—1997 through 2001. All visits are coded with a primary diagnosis and up to ten secondary diagnoses. The secondary diagnoses indicate additional problems to be addressed during the visit and complicating factors associated with the primary diagnosis. Detection of Substance Use Disorders in Veterans Affairs Primary Care Clinics