Examining the role of nursing in (youth) drug court programs

There is a paucity of literature examining the role of nursing and nurse practice models in Drug Court Programs and specifically Youth Drug Court Programs. There is also no evaluation of health services provided by nurses in these settings. Hence, there is little to guide services in setting up such a role and benchmarking efficacy. This paper briefly outlines the purpose and functions of Drug Courts, examines the New South Wales (NSW), Australia, Youth Drug and Alcohol Court Program process, and summarizes the role of the nurse within this program. This role is then compared to that of the nurse in other Drug Court Programs, and future implications and goals for such nursing positions are discussed.