Background: Narcotics are drugs that depress, or slow the activity of the body’s nervous system [1]. A narcotic drugs are very efficient in controlling pain and provides the patient a sense of well being. Narcotic has potential for addiction and substance abuse. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Bill, 1985 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 23 August 1985 and it was assented by the President on 16 September 1985. Narcotic that are made from or contain opium are called opiate. The rise in opioid addicts has been increasing over the years though it would be fallacious to quantify this increase. Opiates remain the world’s main problem drug in terms of treatment. Misuse or improper dosage, and lack of knowledge regarding narcotic policy among health professionals especially nurses may lead to under estimation of patients pain or lead to physical dependence in patients.

Objective: To assess the pre test and post knowledge regarding narcotic policy among the staff nurses in the experimental and control group. To compare the pre test and post test knowledge score. To associate the knowledge score with selected demographic variables in the experimental and control group.

Methodology: This study was based on quantitative research approach. The research design used in this study was Quasi- experimental Non- randomized control group design. The sampling technique used in the study was non- probability convenient sampling and the sample size was 60 (30 in the experimental group – 30 in the control group) staff nurses.

Result: The analysis reveals that.In the experimental group, the pre test mean knowledge obtained by the staff nurses was 15.46 and in the post test it is increased to 24.03. In the control group, the pre test mean knowledge obtained by the staff was 15 and in the post test it is increased to 16.63. The calculated ‘t’ value was 10.65 is higher than table value 2.00 at 0.05 level of significance. Thus the H1 is accepted and H0 is rejected.

Conclusion: The study conclude that the planned teaching programme was effective in improving the knowledge regarding narcotic policy among staff nurses. Association of knowledge was found with area of working in experimental group.

Keywords: Assess Effectiveness; Planned Teaching Programme; Knowledge; Narcotic
Policy; Staff Nurses.