The World Health Organization has designated the year 2020 as the "Year of the Nurse and Midwife" in honor of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. The Journal of Addictions Nursing will honor this designation by including a banner on each of the covers of the journal coming out this year. It is my pleasure to introduce the first issue of the Journal of Addictions Nursing in 2020.
Dr. Brannock and colleagues present an educational project, "Reducing Opioid Bias is Necessary," to address bias ad stigma among community participants and healthcare workers in light of the opioid epidemic. They have developed a replicable program that showed a decrease in participants' bias and an increase in their understanding and empathy. Educational programming is often the first step in increasing knowledge and changing attitudes toward individuals who use substances, and the inclusion of real-life experiences of individuals who have an opioid use disorder (either in-person or via video) may be a powerful addition to any program.
A doctoral student, Mr. Sullivan, and colleagues discuss the importance of assessing and stabilizing substance use and facilitating linkages to appropriate treatment. Their current work examines the utility of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth Edition Level 2 Substance Use Screener as a supplemental tool for identifying substance use by self-report within an inpatient psychiatric setting. The brief and easily administered screener shows promise for improving identification of substance use in an inpatient psychiatric setting and may provide nursing staff with a means to work with patients to assess substance use and coordinate treatment plans.
Dr. Caboral-Stevens and colleagues present a concept analysis of opioid addiction in the 21st century. It enhances understanding of the current opioid epidemic that is affecting the country and presents implications for nurses, who are in a position to play critical roles in the fight against opioid addiction.
The opioid epidemic has stimulated an increase in treatment options for those with an opioid use disorder. Dr. Noe and Dr. Keller evaluate factors associated with an individual's retention rate in an office-based opioid treatment program with buprenorphine. Their results suggest higher retention rates in individuals who used pills only, who had no history of intravenous drug use, and who disclosed and were treated for any mental health issues. It could be beneficial for other office based opioid treatment programs to examine their participants' characteristics that may help them to predict retention rates in their programs.
Dr. Aygun reports on the dramatic increase in the use of computer games in children and adolescents. The current study aims to determine computer game addiction in primary school children and affecting factors. The study found that students who have computers and game consoles at home and spent more time on the Internet and playing computer games constituted the most at-risk group of children for computer game addiction. Preventive nursing interventions in coordination with schools, teachers, and parents could be developed to help prevent problems surrounding computer game addiction.
Previous studies suggest smartphone overdependence among middle-aged people is increasing, whereas Dr. Juyeon Oh presents a study examining smartphone overdependence and the psychosocial factors affecting overdependence among middle-aged women. Of the 135 women, almost 10% were classified into the smartphone overdependence group. Social support from significant others, tension, and vigor were factors associated with smartphone overdependence. Nurses are in a unique position to work with women to find interventions to mitigate their overdependence on smartphones.
The purpose of Ms. Maynard's scoping review is to gather known data on the use of educational interventions with nursing students to reduce stigmatization around substance use. Few studies were found that specifically target this area, indicating a gap in the literature related to educational research on methods to reduce stigma. Considering the ongoing state of the opioid epidemic, attention must be paid to establish methods and measure their effectiveness in reducing stigma and improving nurse-patient relationships.
Finally, we have two informative columns: Dr. Fogger's Clinical Reviews Column on the "Transition Home: Safe Plan of Care for Infants with a History of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome" and Dr. Eisenhut's last Peer Assistance Column, with Mr. Edward Adams, on "Nurses Helping Nurses in Georgia." The Peer Assistance Column will now be coordinated by Ms. Suzanne Kinkle of Recovery Management Services. We can continue to look forward to reading more about Peer Assistance moving forward.
I'd like to take this opportunity to, again, personally thank all of our Journal reviewers! The Journal would not be what it is without their expertise and willingness to take their time to read and provide feedback to our authors. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in becoming a reviewer, and as always, I look forward to your feedback on issues related to the Journal. All the best to nurses everywhere in this "Year of the Nurse and Midwife."