Testing for drugs of abuse in children and adolescents

Pediatrics. 2014 Jun;133(6):e1798-1807. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-0865.

Abstract

Drug testing is often used as part of an assessment for substance use in children and adolescents. However, the indications for drug testing and guidance on how to use this procedure effectively are not clear. The complexity and invasiveness of the procedure and limitations to the information derived from drug testing all affect its utility. The objective of this clinical report is to provide guidance to pediatricians and other clinicians on the efficacy and efficient use of drug testing on the basis of a review of the nascent scientific literature, policy guidelines, and published clinical recommendations.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alcoholism / diagnosis*
  • Alcoholism / rehabilitation
  • Child
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Ethanol / adverse effects
  • Ethanol / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs / adverse effects
  • Illicit Drugs / analysis*
  • Illicit Drugs / pharmacokinetics
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Marijuana Abuse / diagnosis
  • Marijuana Abuse / rehabilitation
  • Metabolic Clearance Rate / physiology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Specimen Handling
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / rehabilitation

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs
  • Ethanol