Appropriate Use of Drug Testing in Clinical Addiction Medicine

Purpose

The purpose of the Appropriate Use of Drug Testing in Clinical Addiction Medicine is to provide guidance about the effective use of drug testing in the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and promotion of recovery for patients with, or at risk for, addiction. This document draws on existing empirical evidence and clinical judgment on drug testing with the goal of improving the quality of care that people with addiction receive.

By focusing on the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and promotion of recovery for patients with, or at risk of, addiction, the appropriateness document:

• Identifies current clinical practice and disagreement regarding the use of drug testing.
• Utilizes the Research and Development/University of California Los Angeles (RAND/UCLA) Appropriateness Method, which combines existing empirical evidence and clinical expertise to develop recommendations for appropriate practice.
• Compiles recommendations in a comprehensive document for use by a variety of providers who utilize drug testing.