Screening and assessment of volatile inhalant use

Ask all new patients routinely and others (adolescents and adults) opportunistically and periodically about volatile inhalant use, as part of a general screen for disorders of substance use and gambling; these disorders are common (and often co-exist) and people are reluctant to disclose them, often due to fear of stigma. Screening and assessment of substance use and addictive behaviours outlines history-taking (including use of the ASSIST-Lite tool), examination, and investigations that should be considered in a broad review of substance use and addictive behaviour. A sociopsychobiomedical assessment is critical as use in young people often reflects significant psychosocial disadvantage (eg poverty, an unstable home situation or major stressors at school). Inhalant use is associated with psychiatric comorbidity and patients identified as using inhalants should be screened for thisShen, 2020.