Abstract
BACKGROUND: The work environment of nurses is characterized by physical and mental hazards liable to cause exhaustion and lead them to take psychoactive substances as coping strategy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate nurses' perception of the work environment influence on psychoactive substance intake. METHODS: Exploratory, descriptive and qualitative study with 14 nurses in two public hospitals. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and subjected to content analysis. RESULTS: Staff and material shortages, submission, lack of autonomy, conflict in interpersonal relationships and power struggles were the main reasons for nurses to take psychoactive substances. CONCLUSION: Nurses are exposed to stressors in the workplace, including understaffing, power struggles, interpersonal conflict and lack of autonomy, which may lead them to take legal or illegal drugs.