Abstract
Drug addiction is a growing problem in the United States. Many medical providers are unsure how to approach patients about their drug addiction and patients often believe their medical provider is judging them for using drugs. Empathy has been shown to positively effect treatment outcomes in other medical interactions. This study explores the relationship between nursing students' empathy and their favorable perception of patients with drug addiction. The relationship between experience with drug users and the nursing students' perception of drug users was also explored. California State University, Sacramento nursing students (N=40) in their first and second year were surveyed. Findings of this study suggest that there is a relationship between having a higher level of empathy and a more favorable perception of patients who use drugs in nursing students. This suggests that those working in the medical establishment and social services would benefit from more education around developing empathy, so that they can better serve their clients who struggle with drug addiction.