What does a false negative indicate in substance use screening?

A false negative in substance use screening indicates a situation where a person who actually has a substance use disorder is incorrectly classified as not having one. This means that the screening test failed to identify the disorder when it was present. As a result, the individual may not receive the necessary treatment or support, potentially leading to ongoing substance use and associated risks. Understanding false negatives is crucial in substance use screening, as they can have significant implications for the health and recovery of individuals.

Other outcomes, like accurately classifying someone as having a disorder, are not relevant to what a false negative means; they describe correct identifications that would be assessed by sensitivity or specificity of a test rather than a situation where a disorder goes undetected.