Substance Abuse Potential and Job Stress

A study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of substance abuse among pharmacists and to assess the relationship benveen job stress and substance abuse potential. Data was gathered via a four-page questionnaire which was mailed to 1,400 pharmacists across the United States. Data from the Hohann-Lumry substance abuse screening scale indicated that 17.2 percent of the pharmacists would be class~fied as high likelihood substance abusers; males were approximately twice as likely as females to be so classified. Frequency of exposure to 11 potentially stressful job situations was related significantly to substance abuse potential. Several suggestions are made for reducing job stress and substance abuse among pharmacists.