Testing for Drugs of Abuse in Children and Adolescents
Abstract
This Clinical Report was reaffirmed December 2025.: Drug testing is often used as part of an assessment for substance use in children and adolescents. However, the indications for drug testing and guidance on how to use this procedure effectively are not clear. The complexity and invasiveness of the procedure and limitations to the information derived from drug testing all affect its utility. The objective of this clinical report is to provide guidance to pediatricians and other clinicians on the efficacy and efficient use of drug testing on the basis of a review of the nascent scientific literature, policy guidelines, and published clinical recommendations.
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Methylphenidate inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine and is FDA-approved for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy.
“Methylphenidate (MPH) inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine and is FDA-approved for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy.143,144”
From The ASAM/AAAP Clinical Practice Guideline on the Management of Stimulant Use Disorder (2024) · cites this paper as [144]
Cites
Potential problems with the interpretation of hair analysis results
Wennig, R. (2000) · Forensic Science International · doi:10.1016/s0379-0738(99)00146-2 · Cited by 677 · see citing works
Oral fluid testing for drugs of abuse
Bosker, W. M., & Huestis, M. A. (2009) · Clinical Chemistry · doi:10.1373/clinchem.2008.108670 · Cited by 378 · see citing works
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Hadland, S. E., & Levy, S. (2016) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.chc.2016.02.005 · Cited by 183 · see citing works
Self-citationAppropriate Use of Drug Testing in Clinical Addiction Medicine
Jarvis, M., Williams, J., Hurford, M., Lindsay, D., Lincoln, P., Giles, L., Luongo, P., & Safarian, T. (2017) · Journal of Addiction Medicine · doi:10.1097/adm.0000000000000323 · Cited by 187 · see citing works
Use of Performance-Enhancing Substances
LaBotz, M., Griesemer, B. A., COUNCIL ON SPORTS MEDICINE AND FITNESS, Brenner, J. S., LaBella, C. R., Brooks, M. A., Diamond, A., Kelly, A. K. W., LaBotz, M., Logan, K., et al. (2016) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2016-1300 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
The ASAM/AAAP Clinical Practice Guideline on the Management of Stimulant Use Disorder
(2024) · Journal of Addiction Medicine · doi:10.1097/adm.0000000000001299 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
- Authors
- Levy, S., Siqueira, L. M., COMMITTEE ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE, Levy, S., Ammerman, S. D., Gonzalez, P. K., Ryan, S. A., Siqueira, L. M., & Smith, V. C.
- ORCID
- Smith, Vincent C.
- Venue
- Pediatrics
- Publisher
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- Published
- 2014-06-01
- Volume
- 133
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- e1798-e1807
- ISSN
- 0031-4005 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-4275
- OpenAlex
- W2131409982
- Cited by
- 101
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- PEDIATRICS (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Demography › Youth, Drugs, and Violence
- Keywords
- drug testing, children, adolescents, substance use, drug screening, indications, pediatricians, clinical guidelines, policy guidelines
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Ethanol, Alcoholism, Marijuana Abuse, Child, Drug Evaluation, Preclinical, Emergency Service, Hospital, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Metabolic Clearance Rate, Predictive Value of Tests, Specimen Handling, Illicit Drugs, Substance-Related Disorders
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