O cuidado de usuários de álcool e outras drogas na APS: reflexões sobre as práticas e percepções de agentes comunitários na perspectiva da redução de danos

Abstract

Introduction: Besides the implications that abusive use of psychoactive substances can cause on people's lives, there is a set of beliefs and perceptions of health professionals that can contribute to the increase of barriers related to access and attachment of alcohol and other drugs to existing health services. Studies point out that the training of primary care professionals to understand the context in which the user is located and the use of drugs is one of the necessities to reach the integral care of this target public. Objectives: This study aims to analyze the knowledge and practices of Community Health Agents trained by the Care Pathway Project, aimed at users of alcohol and other drugs from the perspective of the Harm Reduction (HR) strategy. Method: This research used the qualitative method, performing semistructured interviews as a source of data collection and analysis of content for data systematization. Six Community Health Agents were interviewed, working in teams of the Family Health Strategy of Ubá, MG. Results: The data show that even those professionals who know the concept of HR and report the possibility of using this approach to care for alcohol and other drug users in the context of Primary Health Care cannot provide care that is close to this strategy. This occurs because the interviewees do not respect freedom of choice, they are based on prohibitionism and the ideal of abstinence. This practical difficulty in developing care based on this approach is related to the moralizing perception about drug use, its association with crime and the focus on the possibility of extinguishing the use of drugs by societies. Final considerations: The adhesion to practices guided by the HR approach involves the discussion of the role of drugs in society and is related to the professionals' perception of the use of drugs and their users. In order to move towards this care in primary attention, it is necessary to invest in parenting practices that can and should be offered by the Primary Health Care Nucleus, the Psychosocial care center and other teams, in order to redefine the practices of professionals on a permanent basis.