NCJ Number
155018
Journal
Nursing Research Volume: 40 Issue: 3 Dated: (June 1991) Pages: 172-175
Date Published
1991
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Data from 143 nurses and a matched group of 1,410 non- nurses were compared to estimate the prevalence of drug abuse and depression among employed registered nurses and to compare them with other employed individuals.
Abstract
Participants were obtained from a probability sample of households that were part of the National Institute of Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program (ECA). The data came from five sites: Baltimore, St. Louis, New Haven, Conn., Durham, N.C., and Los Angeles. The nurses were matched by census tract and gender to a comparison group who were also employed at the time of interviews. Results revealed that nurses were no more likely than non-nurses to have engaged in illicit drug use or to have experienced depression. Nurses were also less likely to have experienced problems with alcohol abuse than were non-nurses. Future studies should focus on the identification of nurse subgroups that may be at increased risk for drug abuse. Table and 29 references (Author abstract modified)