Substance Abuse: Risks Factors and Protective Factors

Depressive symptoms and drug use among nursing staff professionals

“…1,9 A study showed that there are different risk factors for substance abuse among professionals from the nursing staff, among them are psychiatric factors, which include the presence of depression and demographical factors, specially the gender issue. 20 On the present sample, 35,8% consumed alcoholic beverages in a binge pattern and 21,2% had an abusive use of alcohol or have a probable dependency. It was also observed that 6,6% of participants were active.…”

“…They tend to seek help for symptoms associated with drug abuse, such as insomnia, stress, anxiety, and depression, with higher rates of comorbidities. 20 The underreporting of drug abuse cases is also more common among the professionals from the nursing staff of the female gender. Generally, women that abuse of drugs tend to start treatment due to consequences from physical, mental or family problems, while that men tend to be identified more precociously and sent to specialized services.…”

“…Generally, women that abuse of drugs tend to start treatment due to consequences from physical, mental or family problems, while that men tend to be identified more precociously and sent to specialized services. 20 Thus, it is perceived that professionals from the nursing staff are not immune to drug abuse and present a risk pattern for binge drinking and marijuana use, similar to that found in the general population. Many times, this issue is overestimated by supervisors and employers of these professionals and even by their peers, that end up making an early detection.…”

A critical review of knowledge on nurses with problematic substance use: The need to move from individual blame to awareness of structural factors

“…While ATD programs may diminish nurses' fear of punishment by employers and/or professional bodies, the historical blaming and punitive attitudes within the culture of the nursing profession persist, serving as major structural impediments to nurses obtaining treatment (Darbro & Malliarakis, ; National Council of State Boards of Nursing [NCSBN], ). Nurses with PSU have been found to perceive their employers as unsupportive (Kunyk, ) and mistrust their workplace management and professional bodies, fearing negative judgment and repercussions, such as loss of licenses and jobs and public disgrace, despite assurances to the contrary (CRNNS, ; Kelly & Mynatt, ; Kunyk, ; Kunyk & Austin, ; Malloch, ; Monroe & Kenaga, ; Strom‐Paikin, ).…”

“A Two Glass of Wine Shift”: Dominant Discourses and the Social Organization of Nurses’ Substance Use

“…Our next step was to review scholarly literature ( Ross, Berry, Smye, & Goldner, 2018 ). Dominant concepts used to explain nurses’ perspectives of substance-use problems, such as stigma ( Darbro, 2005 ), negative attitudes ( Howard & Chung, 2000 ), and the culture of the nursing profession ( Darbro & Malliarakis, 2013 ; Solari-Twadell, 1988 ) permeated much of the existing research. Numerous conceptualizations of substance-use problems were also offered, such as problematic substance use ( College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia, 2017 ), substance-use disorders ( Monroe, Vandoren, & Smith, 2011 ), addiction, and substance abuse 2 ( Monroe & Kenaga, 2010 ).…”