The crucial role of all current and future nurses in addressing the continuum of substance use

American Academy of Nursing Expert Panel Consensus Statement on leveraging equity in policy to improve recognition and treatment of mental health, substance use disorders, and nurse suicide

Rates of nurse mental health and substance use disorders are high. Heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses are challenged to care for patients in ways that often jeopardize their own health and increase risks for their families. These trends exacerbate the epidemic of suicide in nursing underscored by several professional organization clarion calls to nurses' risk. Principles of health equity and trauma-informed care dictate urgent action. The purpose of this paper is to establish consensus among clinical and policy leaders from Expert Panels of the American Academy of Nursing about actions to address risks to mental health and factors contributing to nurse suicide. Recommendations for mitigating barriers drew from the CDC's 2022 Suicide Prevention Resource for Action strategies to guide the nursing community to inform policy, education, research, and clinical practice with the goals of greater health promotion, risk reduction, and sustainment of nurses' health and well-being are provided.

Morbidity and mortality and factors associated with death in hospitalized patients resulting from the impacts of alcohol and other drugs

Abstract Objective To describe the hospitalizations resulting from the impacts of alcohol and other drug abuse and factors associated with death. Methods Cross-sectional, observational, and retrospective study, with secondary data from 3,562 admissions recorded at the Center for Information and Toxicological Assistance of a teaching hospital in northwest Paraná, using epidemiological surveillance of active search, from 2009 to 2018. Data were processed using univariate analysis (Pearson’s Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test). Results Most were males (89.6%), and the mean age was 43.62 years (±16 years). Most hospitalizations resulted from traumatic events and other external causes (52.1%) associated with the use/abuse of alcoholic beverages (85.8%). The mean length of hospital stay was 34.6 days, and 6.0% died. There was an association between risk of death and endocrine/metabolic, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary diseases. Conclusion Hospitalizations with greater severity increase the incidence of deaths, and evidencing the associated factors directs interventions to decrease hospitalizations, reducing complications and deaths. Implications for practice The studies serve as a support for the development of prevention strategies, encouragement for improvement actions in the assistance network for users, strengthening and increasing public policies.

Morbimortalidade e fatores associados ao óbito em internados por efeitos do álcool e outras drogas

Resumo Objetivo descrever as internações por efeitos do abuso de álcool e outras drogas e os fatores associados ao óbito. Métodos estudo transversal, observacional e retrospectivo, com dados secundários de 3.562 internações registradas no Centro de Informação e Assistência Toxicológica de um hospital de ensino no noroeste do Paraná, por vigilância epidemiológica de busca ativa, entre os anos 2009 e 2018. Os dados foram tratados por análise univariada (teste do qui-quadrado de Pearson e teste exato de Fisher). Resultados houve predomínio do sexo masculino (89,6%), e a média de idade foi de 43,62 anos (±16 anos). A maioria das internações foi por eventos traumáticos e outras causas externas (52,1%) associadas ao uso/abuso de bebida alcoólica (85,8%). O tempo médio de internação foi de 34,6 dias; 6,0% evoluíram a óbitos. Houve a associação entre o risco para óbitos e doenças endócrinas/metabólicas, cardiovasculares, gastrintestinais e geniturinárias. Conclusão as internações com maior gravidade aumentam a incidência de óbitos, e a identificação dos fatores associados direcionou as intervenções para a redução de internações, minimizando as complicações e os óbitos. Implicações para prática este estudo serve como subsídio para o desenvolvimento de estratégias de prevenção e estímulo para as ações de melhoria na rede assistencial aos usuários, fortalecendo e incrementando as políticas públicas.

Changes in Nursing Students' Attitudes and Perceptions After Receipt of Enhanced Substance Use-Related Curricular Content

BACKGROUND

Negative attitudes toward persons who use alcohol and other drugs contribute to suboptimal care. Nurses are in key roles to address the needs of this population, yet they lack the education needed to identify persons who may be at risk because of substance use and intervene accordingly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a substance-use-related curriculum on nursing students' attitudes and therapeutic commitment for working with patients with alcohol- and drug-use-related problems.

METHODS

Data were collected for four cohorts of 169 nursing students enrolled in a Master's Entry into Nursing program. Questionnaires included the Person-Centered Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire and the Drug and Drug Problems Perception Questionnaire, completed before and after completing the curriculum. Paired samples t test were used to examine pre/post differences for each measure's subscale.

RESULTS

Four of the seven Person-Centered Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire subscales showing significant increases were role adequacy, role support, role legitimacy, and general perceptions. Four of the five Drug and Drug Problems Perception Questionnaire subscales showing significant increases were role adequacy, role support, job satisfaction, and role legitimacy; there was a significant change in role-related self-esteem, however, in a negative direction.

CONCLUSIONS

This study adds to the growing evidence of the positive impact of providing evidence-based information and skill development, which enhance alcohol- and drug-related knowledge and competence for nurses entering professional practice.

Confronting COVID, racism, and addiction: The association of multidisciplinary education and research in substance use and addiction (AMERSA)

The COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing opioid epidemic, rise in substance use, and social and political unrest in the US and globally has impacted how substance use-related health needs are addressed. These issues were driving forces in planning AMERSA's 44th annual conference. True to the multidisciplinary spirit, and with diversity goals and advocacy at the forefront of mind, "together we rise" became the beacon for the AMERSA 2020 conference. This commentary provides an overview of the conference proceedings, topics that were highly relevant for clinicians, educators, researchers, and advocates for change.