Relationship of Student Nurses' Substance Misuse to Perceptions of Peer Substance Use and Harmfulness

- Nursing students surveyed about their past-year substance use, perceived peer substance use, and perceived harmfulness of substance use.
- Substances included: binge drinking, marijuana, non-prescribed prescription drugs, stimulants, and illegal drugs.
- For all five substances, students' perceptions of peer use are significantly and positively associated with their own use.
- Perceived harmfulness is inversely correlated to substance use.
- Many nurses with substance misuse issues developed the problem while they were students.
- It is important to identify students at risk for developing substance misuse disorders for prevention or early intervention.