JAMA Netw Open

Inequities revealed in substance use screening among injured adolescents

October 16, 2024

Adolescents from marginalized groups who are treated at pediatric trauma centers are more frequently tested for drugs and alcohol compared with their White peers, even when injury severity is considered, according to this retrospective cohort study.

Researchers examined data from the ACS Trauma Quality Programs dataset, covering 85,362 adolescents ages 12 to 17 years from 121 pediatric trauma centers between 2017 and 2021. Of those adolescents, 67% were White, 82% were non-Hispanic, 72% were male, and 51% had private insurance.

Key findings

• Black adolescents were more likely to be screened for alcohol and drugs, respectively, than White adolescents.
• Odds of alcohol and drug screening for American Indian adolescents were higher than for White adolescents.
• Hispanic, Medicaid-insured, uninsured, and female adolescents were also more likely to undergo biochemical substance use screening compared with their White, non-Hispanic, privately insured, and male counterparts.

Source:

Rook JM, et al. (2024, October 1). JAMA Netw Open. Disparities in Screening for Substance Use Among Injured Adolescents. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39365586/