NURSES REFERRED TO A PEER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEMS

Investigation into nurses referred to peer assistance programs for sub stance abuse is essential to program development and the development o f primary prevention strategies. The purpose of this study was to (1) describe the characteristics, substance use, and program participation of 221 nurses referred to a state nursing organization peer assistanc e program, and (2) identify factors associated with program participat ion. The highest percentage of nurses (63%) used narcotics; 36% had di verted drugs from patients for their own use. Sixty-four percent of th e referred nurses successfully completed the program. This model was f ound to be effective in addressing substance abuse in nursing. Copyrig ht (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company