The Role of Nurses in Alcohol and Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Scientific Analysis of Global Research Activities

Purpose: To examine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of publications on alcohol and substance use disorders in the field of nursing as well as the roles of nurses in this context from a bibliometric perspective. The Web of Science database was used for this study. Method: Bibliometric analysis was used to determine the scope of knowledge in a specific field and to measure productivity. Data were collected by searching with the keyword combination “alcohol” OR “substance” OR “drugs” OR “narcotics” OR “cocaine” AND “addiction,” covering studies published up to June 20, 2025, the date of the study, without any time limitation. Results: The data search identified 721 alcohol and substance addiction research and review articles conducted in the field of nursing between 1989 and 2025, and the process was completed using 643 studies in accordance with the exclusion criteria. The analysis revealed that 2,083 authors contributed to the publications, including 596 research articles and 47 reviews/systematic reviews, and each publication received an average of 8.7 citations. Conclusion: Findings highlight the critical need for ongoing research, policy development, and practical interventions to ensure the safety and well-being of nurses and individuals with addiction in mental health settings, and progress has been made in understanding and addressing the roles of nurses regarding alcohol and substance dependence.