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Adolescent Confidentiality
Î Before beginning the drug testing process, providers should ask the
adolescent for permission to share the results with parents/guardians
and discuss confidentiality with parents/guardians in order to
encourage parental involvement.
Î If an adolescent declines to share drug test results, the provider
should not share them unless there is an acute risk of harm to the
patient or others.
Choosing a Test Panel for Adolescent Patients
Î Drug test panels for adolescents should include the substances most
used by the demographic.
Responding to Positive Test Results
Î If a positive definitive drug test result indicates that an adolescent
is engaging in high-risk substance use, the provider should assist
the patient and his or her parent or guardian in developing a plan for
monitoring and treatment.
Pregnant Patients
Consequences and Confidentiality
Î Providers should be aware of the adverse legal and social
consequences of detecting substance use among pregnant women.
They should familiarize themselves with local and state reporting
requirements before conducting a drug test and relay this information
to their patient before conducting a drug test.
Screening, Assessment, and Monitoring
Î Comprehensive substance use assessment, which may include drug
testing, is part of obstetrical best practices. Providers working with
this population should learn about and appropriately use clinical
laboratory tests.
Î For a pregnant patient with a history of addiction, providers should be
aware that the postpartum period is a time of increased vulnerability.
Therefore, assessment for relapse, which may include drug testing,
should be part of the postpartum visit.
Î Providers should keep drug test results and associated diagnoses
confidential to the extent permitted by law.
Patient-Provider Relationship
Î When speaking with patients, providers should emphasize the
therapeutic reasons for drug testing to avoid stigmatization.
