Addressing substance abuse among nursing students: development of a prototype alternative-to-dismissal policy.

Substance abuse and dependency are health issues that require effective policies within nursing education. In 2007, the University of Memphis School of Nursing drafted a new substance abuse policy using the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's Policy and Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Substance Abuse in the Nursing Education Community. These guidelines include the assumption that addiction is an illness that can be treated and the philosophy that schools of nursing are committed to assisting students with recovery. The new policy at University of Memphis School of Nursing incorporated prevention, education, identification, evaluation, treatment referral, and reentry guidelines, as well as disciplinary action for students unwilling to undergo rehabilitation. It is hoped this new substance abuse policy will serve as a prototype for other institutions.