Support not punishment is the key to tackling substance abuse and addiction among nurses, study suggests
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 - 09:33
in Psychology & Sociology
As many as 10 to 20% of nurses and nursing students may have substance abuse and addiction problems, but the key to tackling this difficult issue - and protecting public safety - is support and treatment, not punishment, experts say. Researchers have now recommended six key points that could be built into alternative-to-dismissal (ATD) strategies after reviewing the latest research and professional guidance from countries such as the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the UK.