Core IM | Internal Medicine Podcast #163 Urine Drug Screening Nuances: 5 Pearls Segment
11 snips
Oct 30, 2024 Dr. Michael Insa, a primary care and addiction medicine physician at the University of Utah, teams up with Dr. Heather Stieglitz, a clinical analytical toxicologist at The Ohio State University. They dive into the intricacies of urine drug screening, including common false positives and negatives. The conversation emphasizes the importance of confirmatory tests and patient-centered approaches. They also discuss the sensitive nature of screenings, advocating for empathetic communication and motivating patients to engage in open discussions about substance use.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
UDS as a Tool, Not Punishment
- Use urine drug screens (UDS) to support patient recovery and assess drug interactions or unintentional exposures.
- Never use UDS to punish patients; frame it as a tool to augment treatment, similar to A1C or blood pressure checks.
Poisoned Drug Supply
- The current illicit drug supply is often contaminated with fentanyl and other substances.
- UDS helps identify these unintended exposures, motivating patients towards harm reduction or abstinence.
UDS Frequency
- Start with more frequent UDS early in treatment, decreasing frequency as patients stabilize.
- Be transparent with patients about testing frequency and goals, fostering trust and preventing alienation.