Supporting the Journey: A Reading List for Addiction Nurses
As we celebrate International Nurses Week, we honour the dedication, expertise, and compassion of nurses around the globe—especially those working on the frontlines of substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery support. Addiction nurses play a crucial role not only in clinical care but also in education, advocacy, and research.
This reading list brings together research articles, practical tools, clinical guidelines, and professional development resources to support addiction nurses in delivering high-quality, research backed care.
Section 1: Foundations in Addiction Nursing
Understanding the foundation of addiction nursing is essential for building safe, ethical, and effective practice. This section provides resources that define what addiction nursing is and what it requires—from core competencies to the application of effective care in real-world settings.
Addiction Nursing Competencies: A Comprehensive Toolkit for the Addictions Nurse
A practical and comprehensive guide outlining core competencies for addiction nurses, including clinical care, ethics, and education. Developed by leading experts, this toolkit serves as a roadmap for quality care and professional advancement.
Evidence-Based Nursing Practice and Drug Demand Reduction
Discusses the role of research-backed practice in nursing responses to substance use challenges, emphasizing how research-informed care can improve outcomes across prevention, treatment, and recovery support.
Section 2: Addiction Nursing- Insight from Research and Field Experience
This section offers research-based insights into the roles, responsibilities, and evolving contributions of addiction nurses in diverse care settings.
Knowledge and Attitudes of Nurses Towards Alcohol and Related Problems
Assesses the effects of an educational intervention on nurses' understanding of alcohol use, highlighting the potential for targeted training to shift practice and improve care quality.
The Role of UK Alcohol and Drug Nurses in a Changing Workforce
Examines the evolving role of addiction nurses in the UK, shedding light on the challenges of role clarity and integration within multidisciplinary teams
The Role of Specialist Addiction Nurses in Alcohol Treatment
Highlights how advanced training of addiction nurses enhances patient outcomes and supports integrated, multidisciplinary care.
Section 3: Professional Growth in Addiction Nursing
Focused on lifelong learning, this section highlights strategies and programmes that support continuing education, skill development, and workforce advancement.
Substance Use Disorders: A Guide for the Primary Care Provider
A practical overview of diagnosing and managing substance use in general practice. Especially useful for nurses in primary care settings focused on early identification and coordinated care (subscription or institutional access is required)
Lifelong Learning and Nurses’ Continuing Professional Development
Outlines the importance of ongoing learning for nurses, emphasizing professional growth, quality of care, and retention.
Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC) – Series 3: Co-Occurring Disorders
Offers an accessible introduction to the treatment of co-occurring mental and physical disorders, including practical strategies that nurses can use in clinical and community care.
Highlights the importance of sustained professional development for improving clinical practice, fostering resilience, and enhancing workforce retention—particularly in complex areas such as addiction care.
This collection of resources could support addiction nurses throughout their professional journey. Whether new to the field or building on years of experience, these tools, research insights, and learning opportunities help guide their practice.
