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Novel Apparatus and Method for Drug Reinforcement
Published on: August 20, 2010
Substance use by pharmacy and nursing practitioners and students in a northeastern state
1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI, USA. george_kenna@brown.edu
Purpose:
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).
Conclusion:
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.
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