Substance use by pharmacy and nursing practitioners and students in a northeastern state.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence and predictors of substance use among pharmacists and nurses and pharmacy and nursing students were studied.


METHODS
During summer 2002, pharmacists and nurses in a northeastern state were mailed an anonymous survey to determine their use of alcohol, tobacco, and commonly abused drugs; to determine their ease of access to controlled substances; and to measure their family history of alcohol and drug problems. A similar but not identical survey was distributed to pharmacy and nursing students during spring 2000.


RESULTS
A total of 262 usable questionnaires were received from pharmacists and nurses (response rate, 72.8%), and 138 usable questionnaires were received from students (35.3%). Large majorities of nursing students, pharmacy students, and nurses were women. A higher percentage of pharmacists reported having used an opioid or an anxiolytic at least once in their lives (24.8% and 14.3%, respectively) than nurses (14.5% and 7.8%). Higher percentages of nursing students and nurses reported having ever used an unprescribed drug (74.5% of nursing students and 63.6% of nurses).


CONCLUSIONS
A survey of pharmacy and nursing practitioners and students in a northeastern state provided important information on alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use among these groups and highlighted the need for prevention and intervention.
Kenna
George A
GA
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI, USA. george_kenna@brown.edu
Wood
Mark D
MD
D006801:Humans; D009511:New England / Q000453:epidemiology; D009726:Nurses; D010595:Pharmacists; D011363:Professional Impairment; D013334:Students; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*