Substance Use Screening in HIV Care Settings: a Review and Critique of the Literature

AbstractPurpose of ReviewPeople living with human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS (PLWHA) experience high prevalence of substance use disorders (SUD). HIV care settings represent a unique opportunity to identify possible SUD, to provide SUD interventions, and to improve linkage to SUD treatment. The aims of this paper are to (a) review and critique the extant literature examining substance use screening approaches among PLWHA in HIV care settings and (b) provide recommendations for future clinical practice.Recent FindingsTwenty-one peer-reviewed articles that examined substance screening approaches employed in HIV and other primary care settings were included in the review. There was limited literature reporting on the implementation and evaluation of substance use screening practices within HIV care settings, and methodological rigor varied across studies. Further, the use of validated substance use screening measures or incorporation of other substance use screening approaches (e.g., use of urine drug testing) within routine HIV care practice is limited. Strategies to implement routine substance use screening within HIV care and incorporate additional substance use assessment, brief interventions, and referral to specialty substance use treatment are discussed.SummaryUse of self-report substance use screening measures using web- or computer-delivered approaches that can be integrated within electronic health record systems is particularly promising. HIV care practices should co...

Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - February 12, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research