Why the Emergency Department Matters for Adolescent Substance Use
Every year, millions of adolescents visit emergency departments across the United States. These visits occur for many reasons: injuries, illness, mental health concerns, or substance-related complications. Yet for many young people, these encounters may represent one of the few points of contact they have with the healthcare system.
Adolescence is also the period when many substance use disorders first emerge. Early use of substances such as alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, and opioids is associated with increased risk of long-term health, social, and behavioral consequences. Despite this, screening for substance use remains inconsistent across many healthcare settings.
Emergency departments are uniquely positioned to help address this gap. Clinicians in these settings encounter adolescents at moments when health concerns may be most visible and when families may be particularly open to support and guidance. When screening and intervention are integrated into routine care, these visits can become opportunities to identify risk early and connect youth with treatment and community resources.
Research increasingly suggests that even brief conversations about substance use can influence adolescent health behaviors. When combined with structured screening tools and strong referral pathways, emergency departments can play a meaningful role in prevention and early intervention.
The Sandelich Lab focuses on understanding how healthcare systems can better identify adolescents at risk and connect them with effective support. Our work examines how screening tools, clinical workflows, and community partnerships can improve care for young people experiencing substance use challenges.
This blog will share updates on our research, insights on adolescent health and substance use, and perspectives on how healthcare systems and communities can work together to improve care for youth.
Topics We Plan to Explore
Future posts will cover topics such as:
Substance use screening in emergency departments
Emerging trends in adolescent vaping and cannabis use
Strategies for linking youth to treatment after emergency visits
Community-based prevention and harm reduction efforts
Research updates from the Sandelich Lab
