Primary care
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Primary care physicians should be aware of the popular street drugs being abused in their practice areas. A basic understanding of the drugs and their use will make the physician more credible in the eyes of the patient. ⋯ Specific presenting complaints, physical findings, and laboratory tests will help establish the diagnosis of substance abuse. After the diagnosis is established, a drug treatment program can bring about a seemingly miraculous recovery from the disease of chemical dependency, to the lasting benefit of the patient and the patient's family.