Drug Use Screening Tests
Reviewed
Drug use screening tests are questionnaires that ask about your use of prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, tobacco, illegal drugs, and other substances. They help your healthcare provider check for a substance use disorder and develop an effective treatment plan.
Preparation and collection
No special preparation is needed.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- This is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. A screen-positive result indicates a higher likelihood of a substance use disorder, but it does not confirm a diagnosis.
- False positives and false negatives are possible; your healthcare provider will interpret the results in the context of your overall health and may recommend further evaluation.
- The test relies on honest self-reporting (if self-administered) or your responses during a clinical interview.
What to do next
Your healthcare provider will discuss the results and may recommend further evaluation or treatment. Treatment options include counseling, support groups, medicine, and residential treatment programs. Talk to your provider about what is right for you.