A teen has cervical caries, dry mouth, and behavioral changes. How do you assess substance use?
Use a private, empathetic history and screening; these findings raise concern but do not diagnose a substance use disorder.
- Ask about substances, recent use, medications, past treatment, family history, and mental-health symptoms.
- Explain confidentiality and its legal limits; use open-ended questions.
- SBIRT and CRAFFT can support brief intervention and referral.
- Address dental disease and review interactions/relapse risk before medication or sedation.