Prevalence of substance use by pharmacists and other health professionals.
OBJECTIVE
To assess substance use, misuse, and abuse rates across a representative sample of dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and physicians; compare these rates to available general population data; and determine whether pharmacists report disproportionate unauthorized or illicit substance use.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, descriptive self-report survey.


METHODS
A small northeastern state.


METHODS
Stratified random sample of dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and physicians.


METHODS
Mailed 7-page survey.


METHODS
Demographic characteristics; lifetime, past-year, and month prevalence of substance use; frequency of use; drug-related dysfunctions; drug misuse; and abuse potential.


RESULTS
Six contacts with participants in the summer 2002 resulted in a 68.7% response rate. More than one half (58.7%) of pharmacists reported using a nonprescribed drug at least once in their lifetime. Though total illicit drug use rates by pharmacists were not noticeably different from those of other health professional (HP) groups, a greater proportion of pharmacists reported lifetime use of minor opiates, anxiolytics, and stimulants. Past-year prevalence of drug use was highest among pharmacists (12.8%). Except for anxiolytics, past-year prevalence of use of most other medications by pharmacists was slightly greater than prevalence of use rates reported by physicians and more prevalent than use rates reported in the general population. As with the other HP groups, pharmacists reported low levels of substance-associated dysfunctions and potential abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that lifetime nonprescribed drug use by pharmacists does not appear to be disproportionate when compared with other groups of HPs. Specific drug use rates varied across HP groups, possibly suggesting medication access facilitates drug-associated experiences by HPs. Consequently, unauthorized or illicit substance use by HPs, including pharmacists, suggests the need for more intensive educational programs on practitioner impairment.
Kenna
George A
GA
Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, RI 02908, USA. George_Kenna@Brown.edu
Wood
Mark D
MD
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology