ABSTRACT

Objective

This study aimed to determine the effect of the Peer Addiction Program on the rate of substance use in a group of nursing students who use substance.

Methods

This study was conducted in a one-group, pretest-posttest, quasi-experimental study design. The data was collected in a foundation university in İstanbul in the spring semester of the 2023-2024 academic year with the information form prepared by the researchers in line with the literature. A poster was prepared to announce the program and the study to the students, and the Peer Addiction Program was applied to the students who agreed to participate. The Peer Addiction Program consisted of a seminar on addiction and brochure distribution after seminar, peer stand which opened the entrance of the university, and peer counseling groups. The researchers created the program. The study sample consisted of 27 nursing students who reported substance use. Chi-square and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test, a non-parametric test, were used to analyze the data.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 20.96 years (1.53), 63% were female, 33.3% were third-year students, and 70.4% perceived their economic status as medium. No statistically significant difference was found between the substance consumption rates of nursing students before and after the Peer Addiction Program.

Conclusion

Future studies should examine the effectiveness of peer programs structured with standardized tools and measurements or programs led by peers who have used substances before.