OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the use of alcohol and other drugs by nursing students and to investigate the relationship between this consumption, and the spiritual well-being and sociodemographic characteristics/religious students. METHODS: This was an exploratory study of type epidemiological and cross-sectional, conducted with 100 graduating students of nursing at a university in southern Minas Gerais. The data collection was conducted in the second half of 2011 using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Scale and Spiritual Well-being, Screening Test of Involvement with Alcohol, Tobacco and other Substances. The statistical treatment of the data was performed using univariated analysis, through chi square test and multiple analyses, by logistic dichotomic regression. RESULTS: Alcohol proved to be the most commonly used substance among students (84%), which in turn, showed a significant relationship with the spirituality of the same, seen that owning spiritual welfare negative (OR: 3,325; IC95%: 1,059-10,441) and having no religious frequent practice (OR: 3,392; IC95%: 1,064-10,811) increase the chances of abuse of this substance. CONCLUSION: Preventive initiatives to the consumption of psychoactive drugs linked to the practice of spiritual activities can be used as strategies to promote healthy habits and health maintenance, and also as a resource in the training of nursing students.
Nursing; substance-related disorders; spirituality
