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Discussion: Connecticut Nursing News Name Institution Affiliation Discussion: Connecticut Nursing News Substance abuse in the health profession has become a significant challenge as it affects the delivery of health services and also threatens professional standards, particularly among the nurses. Despite the rise in the number of substance-addicted nurses, many states still allow nurses to continue working while undergoing treatment for addiction which raises the questions whether the state's actions are justifiable or not. Rationally, substance addicted nurses should not be allowed to continue working with a special limitation on their license as they are a threat to the lives and health of patients. The fact that some may be using the substances as a result of professional pressure does not justify substance abuse in such a vulnerable profession. Substances addicted nurses threaten the lives of the patients by stealing their prescribed drugs and therefore should not be allowed to continue working. Nurses develop the substance abuse habit after surgery where drugs are prescribed for pain or through self-medication to reduce stress. The diversion of the drugs by the nurses results in a multi-victim crime that can harm both the patient and nurse (Berge et al. 2012). Continued use of the drugs due to their availability in hospitals induce strong craving for the drugs tempting them to steal the patients’ drugs. For instance, in Minnesota, cases of nurses tampering with syringes and replacing liquid anesthetics with saline liquids as to feed their addiction have been reported (Stahl 2013). Furthermore, when registered nurses are addicted to substance abuse, they
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