Discussing Urine Drug Screen Results for Clinicians

Harm reduction is an evidence-based, practical approach to reducing the negative personal and public health consequences of drug use. However, staff in healthcare settings often struggle to openly discuss drug use with patients. The Introduction to Harm Reduction in Healthcare Video Series demonstrates practical strategies to support the health of people who use drugs. This video presents an approach to open discussion for when non-prescribed substances appear in a patient's urine drug screen.

Additional Takeaways:
-Avoid the impulse to characterize the patient’s narratives or explanations as true or false; address all concerns with data and empathy
-Use all available resources to stay up-to-date on the state of the drug supply and emerging risks (e.g. public health websites, conversations with patients, community-based partners)
-Provide patients with options for staying safer while using drugs (e.g. consider doing a test dose-“start low, go slow”, fentanyl test strips)

Please fill out our survey so we can gather more information about who is watching our videos, how you found them, and how we might be able to improve on them in the future. We greatly appreciate your time.

[mr.fredricklawngtawnghedav]

You take the drug test first and proove that your not stealing drugs from your job at the hospital. If you can pass that, then I will let ypu test me. You people act like you dont do drugs, but some of us know better

[SammySoto-mcwe]

I am a Serial job Hunter I find a job I quit smoking weed for 2 weeks go take the test and I've done this dozens and dozens of times make them waste their money then I'd tell him I don't want to the job what some idiots

[SammySoto-mcwe]

And when I was in the army once while they'd give you a drug test and you know what I would do I would take acid just before I took the test I was flying and I still passed

[SammySoto-mcwe]

And there was a time when I took the test I knew I was going to fail but I still took the test to waste their money cuz the company didn't care if you were on weed the doctor even called me and I told her they don't care so why even take the test

[juiceandsnack]

I only do drug by accident
I smoke weed

[matshagstrom]

What a nice video. It's nice to see people recognizing the disorder as a disease. It should be known that doctor patient confidentiality is not always protected. A court order can cause patients private medical records to be requested and used for punetive or punishing manners. This includes ALL individuals who work under a government license. During an investigation government agencies can and do request medical records including drug testing results. Failure to consent for the release of medical records can be interpreted as failing to cooperate with an investigation which can be grounds to loose your work license. Any individual working for or under a government agency should be very careful of what they disclose to treatment facilities. Patient records are not always protected.

[jeffkoe]

It is not really “just information.” What people are using can determine if prescribers can ethically continue to prescribe something which might make the client more likely to overdose. Why else would you screen? If it is not important to the process of prescribing opioids, why even screen? The prescribers have state and federal guidelines for prescribing, and if they ignore that and their patient overdoses, the prescriber CAN BE HELD Legally LIABLE.