Drug abuse is a major worldwide problem. Statistics offer us alarming details of relationships between illicit drug use and other addictions and death, disease and long-term societal problems. As the largest group of health care workers with close contact in the community and a major force in prevention of social ills, nurses have a crucial role in relation to drug abuse. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of nursing counseling based on reality model in improving level of ego functions and rehospitalization rate of heroine abusers selected from a psychiatric facility in Taipei city. A two-group quasi-experimental research design was conducted. A sample of 46 heroine abusers were selected from March to June 1994 and assigned by time series to one of two groups (1) treatment group, subjects in the group received nursing counseling through hospitalization and follow-up period by one of 4 trained nurses; (2) control group without nursing counseling but traditional care. Pre and post assessments were measured. Statistical techniques, such as descriptive and inferential measures were used to analyze the data. Findings showed the effects of nursing counseling not only improved levels of ego functions, but also decreased rehospitatization rate of the abusers. The research outcomes supported the value of nursing counseling on clinical application.