Substance use-related content in prelicensure nursing curricula: A scoping review

Background: There is a well-established need for registered nurses to possess the knowledge and skills to care for people across the continuum of alcohol and other drug use. However, there is limited evidence regarding the extent to which substance use–related education has been incorporated into prelicensure nursing programs. Purpose: The purpose of this scoping review was to identify peer-reviewed studies relevant to required substance use–related education in prelicensure nursing programs and to collate studies’ findings pertaining to the impact of added substance use content; included content and education strategies; and evaluation of outcomes. Methods: This scoping review followed the five-stage process outlined by Arksey and O'Malley. Studies focusing on prelicensure nursing curricula that included substance use–related content and were published between 2014 and 2024 were included. Results: The review included 32 studies. There were few studies in which substance use–related content has been added to courses across the nursing curriculum. About a third of the studies reported accessing online simulation training programs or publicly accessible expert-developed materials for instructional content. Most studies that evaluated students’ attitudes toward caring for people with substance use reported more favorable attitudes following education. Conclusions: There is an urgent need to strengthen prelicensure nursing curricula to ensure that graduates are prepared to address the entire spectrum of substance use across all practice settings. Without a solid foundation in substance use education, nursing students will lack the skills necessary to provide safe and effective care for people at risk of harm owing to substance use and those living with substance use disorder.