What percentage of nurses in the U.S. are estimated to be impaired by drugs or alcohol?

• A. 1% to 3%
• B. 15% to 20%
• C. 25% to 30%
• D. 7% to 10%

Answer: (D)

Impairment from drugs or alcohol among nurses is a real safety concern, and understanding its prevalence helps highlight the need for monitoring and support programs to protect patients. The best-supported estimate places the proportion of nurses affected at about 7% to 10%. This range reflects evidence from studies and professional reports showing that a meaningful minority experience substance-use problems, enough to warrant attention and intervention, but not so high as to suggest it affects the entire workforce. The other ranges are less consistent with the typical data: 1% to 3% tends to underestimate, while 15%–20% and 25%–30% exceed what most healthcare studies have found in nursing populations. So, 7% to 10% best matches current understanding of how common impairment is among nurses.