Harm reduction: trends being disputed in health policies.

OBJECTIVE: to identify the underlying harm reduction trends in Brazilian drug policies. METHOD: The research, qualitative in nature, used in-depth interviews with experts in the field. The recorded and transcribed material was analyzed via the content analysis method. RESULTS: The analysis exposed the following conceptions: drug use is a disease, and its associated health practices should be treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration. These conceptions deviate to some extent from the war on drugs approach, and support the adoption of harm-reduction practices, proposed by public health. Less expressively, critical conceptions which clearly distance themselves from the prohibitionist approach and from public health may be seen, in line with the perspective of collective health, for the implementation of emancipatory harm-reduction practices. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Harm-reduction conceptions and practices reveal the underlying conservative, liberal, and critical tendencies in Brazilian drug policies.

Harm reduction: trends being disputed in health policies / Reducción del daño: las tendencias subyacentes a las políticas de salud / Redução de danos: tendências em disputa nas políticas de saúde

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the underlying harm reduction trends in Brazilian drug policies. Method: The research, qualitative in nature, used in-depth interviews with experts in the field. The recorded and transcribed material was analyzed via the content analysis method. Results: The analysis exposed the following conceptions: drug use is a disease, and its associated health practices should be treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration. These conceptions deviate to some extent from the war on drugs approach, and support the adoption of harm-reduction practices, proposed by public health. Less expressively, critical conceptions which clearly distance themselves from the prohibitionist approach and from public health may be seen, in line with the perspective of collective health, for the implementation of emancipatory harm-reduction practices. Final considerations: Harm-reduction conceptions and practices reveal the underlying conservative, liberal, and critical tendencies in Brazilian drug policies.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar las tendencias de reducción del daño subyacentes a las políticas de drogas brasileñas. Método: Estudio de tipo cualitativo, en el cual se realizó entrevistas en profundidad a especialistas en el área. Se analizó el material grabado y transcrito por medio del método de análisis de contenido. Resultados: Desde el análisis se presentaron las siguientes concepciones: el consumo de drogas es una enfermedad, y las prácticas de salud deben incluir el tratamiento, la rehabilitación y la reinserción social. Estas concepciones se alejan en cierta medida del abordaje de la guerra a las drogas y fundamentan la adopción de prácticas de reducción de daños, conforme propuestas por la salud pública. Menos expresamente, se pueden verificar también concepciones críticas, que se distancian rigurosamente del abordaje prohibicionista y de la salud pública, afinándose con la perspectiva de la salud colectiva, la de implementar prácticas emancipatorias de reducción de daños. Consideraciones finales: Las concepciones y prácticas de reducción del daño revelan las tendencias conservadora, liberal y crítica subyacentes a las políticas de drogas brasileñas.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar as tendências de redução de danos subjacentes às políticas de drogas brasileiras. Método: A investigação, de natureza qualitativa, utilizou entrevistas em profundidade com especialistas na área. O material gravado e transcrito foi analisado pelo método de análise de conteúdo. Resultados: A análise expôs as seguintes concepções: o consumo de drogas é uma doença, e as práticas de saúde devem ser de tratamento, reabilitação e reinserção social. Essas concepções se afastam em certa medida da abordagem da guerra às drogas e fundamentam a adoção de práticas de redução de danos, conforme propostas pela saúde pública. Menos expressivamente, pode-se verificar também concepções críticas, que se distanciam expressivamente da abordagem proibicionista e da saúde pública, afinando-se com a perspectiva da saúde coletiva, de implementar práticas emancipatórias de redução de danos. Considerações finais: As concepções e práticas de redução de danos revelam as tendências conservadora, liberal e crítica subjacentes às políticas de drogas brasileiras.

[University residence halls: socialization processes and drug consumption]. / Moradia universitária: processos de socialização e consumo de drogas.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and analyze the discourse of students living in university residence halls regarding socialization processes and drug consumption. METHODS: This was qualitative research among 20 undergraduate students living in university residence halls in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2003. Residence halls were taken to be socialization spaces for young people that enable the presence of low-income students at university. The interviews covered students' knowledge of the history of the residence hall, their experience of living in student residences and their perceptions regarding drug consumption. The methodological procedure that served as the basis for collection, organization and analysis of the interview data was examination of the collective discourse of the subjects. RESULTS: It was shown that the students had little knowledge of the history of the residence hall; solutions for problems they faced in the residence hall were sought individually; and the two main concepts observed among the people living there for preventing drug consumption were war on drugs and damage limitation. It was seen that there was a negative view regarding student residence halls that related to the constant publication of disturbing events and lack of knowledge of the importance of residence halls for enabling poor students to remain at university. CONCLUSIONS: In the opinion of the people living in student residence halls, such accommodation enables access to university, despite the difficulties in living together and in administration by the university. With regard to the use of drugs in the residence hall, some of the people living there emphasized the need for less tolerance towards drug consumption, while others stressed the importance of educational work, particularly among those who are just starting to live there.

Moradia universitária: processos de socialização e consumo de drogas / University residence halls: socialization processes and drug consumption

OBJETIVO: Conhecer e analisar o discurso dos moradores de um conjunto residencial estudantil universitário sobre os processos de socialização e consumo de drogas. MÉTODOS: Pesquisa qualitativa, realizada com 20 alunos de graduação residentes em moradia estudantil universitária em São Paulo, SP, 2003. Tomou-se a moradia como um espaço de socialização juvenil que viabiliza a presença de estudantes de baixa renda, na universidade. As entrevistas abordaram o conhecimento dos alunos sobre a história da moradia, a experiência de viver em uma moradia estudantil e a percepção dos moradores sobre o consumo de drogas. O procedimento metodológico que serviu de base para a coleta, organização e análise das entrevistas foi o discurso do sujeito coletivo. RESULTADOS: Os resultados mostraram que: os estudantes têm pouco conhecimento sobre a história da moradia; as alternativas para os problemas que enfrentam na moradia têm sido buscadas individualmente; observou-se entre os moradores as duas principais concepções de prevenção ao consumo de drogas - guerra às drogas e redução de danos. Observou-se haver uma visão negativa sobre a moradia estudantil relacionada com a constante divulgação de fatos conturbados e com o desconhecimento sobre a importância da moradia para viabilizar a permanência de estudantes pobres na universidade. CONCLUSÕES: Na opinião de seus moradores, a moradia estudantil viabiliza o acesso a universidade, apesar de dificuldades na convivência coletiva e na administração da universidade. Em relação ao uso de drogas na moradia, parte dos moradores ressalta a necessidade de menor tolerância ao consumo de drogas e outra parte destaca a importância de trabalho educativo, principalmente com os ingressantes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and analyze the discourse of students living in university residence halls regarding socialization processes and drug consumption. METHODS: This was qualitative research among 20 undergraduate students living in university residence halls in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2003. Residence halls were taken to be socialization spaces for young people that enable the presence of low-income students at university. The interviews covered students' knowledge of the history of the residence hall, their experience of living in student residences and their perceptions regarding drug consumption. The methodological procedure that served as the basis for collection, organization and analysis of the interview data was examination of the collective discourse of the subjects. RESULTS: It was shown that the students had little knowledge of the history of the residence hall; solutions for problems they faced in the residence hall were sought individually; and the two main concepts observed among the people living there for preventing drug consumption were war on drugs and damage limitation. It was seen that there was a negative view regarding student residence halls that related to the constant publication of disturbing events and lack of knowledge of the importance of residence halls for enabling poor students to remain at university. CONCLUSIONS: In the opinion of the people living in student residence halls, such accommodation enables access to university, despite the difficulties in living together and in administration by the university. With regard to the use of drugs in the residence hall, some of the people living there emphasized the need for less tolerance towards drug consumption, while others stressed the importance of educational work, particularly among those who are just starting to live there.

CRUSP: processos de socialização e consumo de drogas (O)

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo conhecer e analisar o discurso dos moradores sobre os processos de socialização no Conjunto Residencial da USP - CRUSP destacand o o consumo de drogas. Tomou-se a moradia como um espaço de socialização juvenil que viabiliza a presença de estudantes pobres na universidade e que poderia estar relacionado a um certo consumo de drogas. Foram entrevistados 20 alunos de graduação. As entrevistas além da caracterização sócio-econômica abordaram três aspectos: o conhecimento dos alunos sobre a história do CRUSP, a experiência de morar no CRUSP (aspectos positivos e negativos) e a visão dos moradores sobre o uso de drogas. Nesta pesquisa qualitativa o procedimento metodológico que serviu de base para a coleta e organização do material proveniente das entrevistas é denominado "Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo" (DSC). ...

O CRUSP: processos de socialização e consumo de drogas / CRUSP: socialization processes and drug consumption

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo conhecer e analisar o discurso dos moradores sobre os processos de socialização no Conjunto Residencial da USP - CRUSP destacando o consumo de drogas. Tomou-se a moradia como um espaço de socialização juvenil que viabiliza a presença de estudantes pobres na universidade e que poderia estar relacionado a um certo consumo de drogas. Foram entrevistados 20 alunos de graduação. As entrevistas além da caracterização socioeconômica abordaram três aspectos: o conhecimento dos alunos sobre a história do CRUSP, a experiência de morar no CRUSP (aspectos positivos e negativos) e a visão dos moradores sobre o uso de drogas. Nesta pesquisa qualitativa o procedimento metodológico que serviu de base para a coleta e organização do material proveniente das entrevistas é denominado "Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo" (DSC). Os resultados foram apresentados em forma de "Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo". Pôde-se perceber que os alunos têm pouco conhecimento sobre a história do CRUSP, que as alternativas para os problemas vividos pelos alunos na moradia têm sido encontradas individualmente, o que reflete a ideologia do capitalismo neoliberal e no que se refere ao uso de drogas, assim como na sociedade em geral, estão presentes as duas principais concepções que contemporaneamente têm alimentado a arena da prevenção ao consumo de drogas: guerra às drogas e redução de danos

The aim of this paper is to analyse and acknowledge the speech of dwellers on their socialization processes in the University of São Paulo´s halls of residence - CRUSP, highlighting the risks of drug intake. Such dormitories were taken as a space for juvenile socialization which enables the attendance of needy students quite likely to be related to abuse drugs. Twenty undergraduates were interviewed. Interviews beyond the socioeconomic characterization comprised three aspects: students´ awareness about CRUSP´s history, experience in living in CRUSP (drawbacks and advantages) and their view on drug use. In this qualitative research, all collection and compilation of information obtained in the interview was grounded on the "Collective Subject Speech" methodological process. All results were presented in such format. It was noticeable that students have little knowledge about the history of CRUSP, and that alternatives for the problems experienced by these students have been found individually, which in its turn recalls the neo-liberal capitalism ideology. Also, as regards drug intake, as well as society in general, this study observes the two main existing conceptions which have been building the drug prevention arena: war on drugs and harm reduction