Discourse of psychoactive substance dependents on their discursively constructed image.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the discourse of psychoactive substance users undergoing treatment regarding their image of themselves as drug dependent subjects, of other dependents and the social position assumed by them. METHOD: qualitative study conducted between March and September of 2016 through a semi-structured interview and drawings, based on the theoretical-methodological reference of French Discourse Analysis. Participation of 12 drug dependent subjects undergoing treatment in the service that substitutes the asylum. RESULTS: The images that psychoactive substance dependents have of themselves and of chemically dependent subjects are associated with the image of a negative, diabolical, transgressive, sick and socially excluded individual. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The ideological effects of meanings produced by users' discourses reproduce the biological and moral model. Health professionals, including nurses, need to invest in discourses that address the psychosocial model to demythologize this stigmatizing image and modify their work practice.

Discourse of psychoactive substance dependents on their discursively constructed image / Discurso de los dependientes de sustancias psicoactivas sobre su imagen construida discursivamente / Discursos de dependentes de substâncias psicoativas sobre sua imagem discursivamente construída

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the discourse of psychoactive substance users undergoing treatment regarding their image of themselves as drug dependent subjects, of other dependents and the social position assumed by them. Method: qualitative study conducted between March and September of 2016 through a semi-structured interview and drawings, based on the theoretical-methodological reference of French Discourse Analysis. Participation of 12 drug dependent subjects undergoing treatment in the service that substitutes the asylum. Results: The images that psychoactive substance dependents have of themselves and of chemically dependent subjects are associated with the image of a negative, diabolical, transgressive, sick and socially excluded individual. Final considerations: The ideological effects of meanings produced by users' discourses reproduce the biological and moral model. Health professionals, including nurses, need to invest in discourses that address the psychosocial model to demythologize this stigmatizing image and modify their work practice.

RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar el discurso del consumidor de sustancias psicoactivas en tratamiento sobre la imagen que tiene de sí mismo como un sujeto dependiente de las drogas, sobre otros dependientes y sobre la posición social asumida por él. Método: investigación cualitativa realizada entre marzo y septiembre de 2016 a través de una entrevista semiestructurada y dibujos basados en la referencia teórico-metodológica de la escuela francesa del Análisis del Discurso. Doce adictos a las drogas fueron tratados en el servicio de sustitución del manicomio. Resultados: las imágenes que los dependientes de sustancias psicoactivas tienen de sí mismos y de los dependientes químicos se asocian con la imagen negativa, diabólica, transgresora, enferma y de una persona socialmente excluida. Consideraciones finales: los efectos de significado producidos ideológicamente por los discursos de los dependientes reproducen el modelo biológico y moral. Los profesionales de la salud, incluidos los enfermeros, deben invertir en discursos que aborden el modelo psicosocial, para desmitificar esta imagen estigmatizante y modificar su práctica en el trabajo.

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar o discurso do usuário de substâncias psicoativas em tratamento sobre a imagem que ele tem de si mesmo enquanto sujeito dependente de drogas, dos outros dependentes e da posição-social assumida por ele. Método: estudo qualitativo, realizado em março e setembro de 2016, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e desenhos, baseado no referencial teórico-metodológico da Análise de Discurso de linha francesa. Participaram 12 dependentes de drogas em tratamento no serviço substitutivo ao manicômio. Resultados: As imagens que o dependente de substâncias psicoativas tem de si e do dependente químico estão associadas com a imagem negativa, diabólica, transgressora, de doente e socialmente excluído.Considerações finais: Os efeitos de sentido ideologicamente produzidos pelos discursos dos usuários reproduzem o modelo biológico e moral. Os profissionais de saúde, inclusive o enfermeiro, necessitam investir em discursos que abordem o modelo psicossocial, para desmitificar esta imagem estigmatizante e modificar sua prática no âmbito de seu trabalho.

Double-blind evaluation of homeopathy on cocaine craving: a randomized controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Brazil is among the nations with the greatest rates of annual cocaine usage. Pharmacological treatment of cocaine addiction is still limited, opening space for nonconventional interventions. Homeopathic Q-potencies of opium and Erythroxylum coca have been tested in the integrative treatment of cocaine craving among homeless addicts, but this setting had not proven feasible, due to insufficient recruitment. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the effectiveness and tolerability of homeopathic Q-potencies of opium and E. coca in the integrative treatment of cocaine craving in a community-based psychosocial rehabilitation setting. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, eight-week pilot trial was performed at the Psychosocial Attention Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAPS-AD), Sao Carlos/SP, Brazil. Eligible subjects included CAPS-AD patients between 18 and 65 years of age, with an International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnosis of cocaine dependence (F14.2). The patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: psychosocial rehabilitation plus homeopathic Q-potencies of opium and E. coca (homeopathy group), and psychosocial rehabilitation plus indistinguishable placebo (placebo group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measure was the percentage of cocaine-using days. Secondary measures were the Minnesota Cocaine Craving Scale and 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey scores. Adverse events were reported in both groups. RESULTS: The study population comprised 54 patients who attended at least one post-baseline assessment, out of the 104 subjects initially enrolled. The mean percentage of cocaine-using days in the homeopathy group was 18.1% (standard deviation (SD): 22.3%), compared to 29.8% (SD: 30.6%) in the placebo group (P < 0.01). Analysis of the Minnesota Cocaine Craving Scale scores showed no between-group differences in the intensity of cravings, but results significantly favored homeopathy over placebo in the proportion of weeks without craving episodes and the patients' appraisal of treatment efficacy for reduction of cravings. Analysis of 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey scores found no significant differences. Few adverse events were reported: 0.57 adverse events/patient in the homeopathy group compared to 0.69 adverse events/patient in the placebo group (P = 0.41). CONCLUSIONS: A psychosocial rehabilitation setting improved recruitment but was not sufficient to decrease dropout frequency among Brazilian cocaine treatment seekers. Psychosocial rehabilitation plus homeopathic Q-potencies of opium and E. coca were more effective than psychosocial rehabilitation alone in reducing cocaine cravings. Due to high dropout rate and risk of bias, further research is required to confirm our findings, with specific focus on strategies to increase patient retention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: RBR-2xzcwz (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br).

Religiosidade e espiritualidade: mecanismos de influência positiva sobre a vida e tratamento do alcoolista / Religiosity and spirituality: mechanisms of positive influence on the life and treatment of alcoholics

Objetivo: Identificar mecanismos de influência positiva da religiosidade e espiritualidade na vida e tratamento, na perspectiva de alcoolistas. Métodos: Estudo qualitativo, exploratório realizado no Centro de Atenção Psicossocial-Álcool e drogas do interior paulista. Realizada entrevista semiestruturada com oito dependentes de álcool. Os dados foram analisados por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo. Resultados: Na percepção dos entrevistados, a religiosidade e espiritualidade influenciam positivamente o conforto de pessoas em abstinência; a ter força interior para cuidar da saúde; promove mudança de hábito, rotina e comportamento; serve como apoio complementar ao tratamento e fortalece exercícios diários de oração. Conclusão: Os alcoolistas reconhecem a influência positiva da religiosidade e espiritualidade, ajudando-os no processo de enfrentamento dos desafios diários da vida e do tratamento. Profissionais de saúde precisam estar aptos a utilizar tais temas no cotidiano do cuidado como recursos motivacionais.