Abstract
A study was done on prevalence, use patterns, and behaviors associated with chemical substance use among diagnostic medical sonographers, radiographers, nuclear medicine technologists, and radiation therapists registered in Georgia. In this article, the researchers emphasize the sonography data, and how they compare with the collective nonsonography radiologic science group data and to U.S. southern region and national population data. Results showed that sonographers had the highest past year nonmedical use rates compared with all other groups for alcohol, marijuana, stimulants, and cocaine, although none were statistically significant. Sonographers reported lowest past year use compared with all other groups for smoking tobacco, which was statistically significant, as well as for smokeless tobacco, which was not statistically significant. Sonographers also indicated no nonmedical use of sedatives, inhalants, hallucinogens, crack, or heroin during the previous 12 months. Recommendations include the need for further study to draw a more accurate picture of sonographers' substance use effects on work performance, the need for increased drug education, and increased attention to customized employee assistance programs.