Participants were obtained from a probability sample of households that were part of the National Institute of Mental Health Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program (ECA). The data came from five sites: Baltimore, St. Louis, New Haven, Conn., Durham, N.C., and Los Angeles. The nurses were matched by census tract and gender to a comparison group who were also employed at the time of interviews. Results revealed that nurses were no more likely than non-nurses to have engaged in illicit drug use or to have experienced depression. Nurses were also less likely to have experienced problems with alcohol abuse than were non-nurses. Future studies should focus on the identification of nurse subgroups that may be at increased risk for drug abuse. Table and 29 references (Author abstract modified)