Key drug use, health and socio-economic characteristics of young crack users in two Brazilian cities.
Int J Drug Policy
; 24(5): 432-8, 2013 Sep.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23632130
BACKGROUND: Crack use constitutes a major problem in cities across Brazil. While existing data suggest that crack use is generally concentrated among disenfranchised young people with extensive health problems and crime involvement, extensive data gaps exist. To address this issue, this study aimed to assess key characteristics of young crack users in two Brazilian cities. METHODS: N=160 regular and young adult (ages 18-24) crack users were recruited by community-based methods in the cities of Rio de Janeiro (Southeast) and Salvador (Northeast). Assessments included an interviewer-administered questionnaire on key social, drug use, health and service use characteristics, as well as serological testing of HBV, HCV and HIV status, and were conducted anonymously between November 2010 and June 2011. Participants provided informed consent and received transportation vouchers following assessment completion. The study was approved by institutional ethics review boards. RESULTS: The majority of participants were: male, with less than high school education, unstably housed (Rio only); gained income from legal or illegal work; arrested by police in past year (Salvador only); had numerous daily crack use episodes and shared paraphernalia (Salvador only); co-used alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and cocaine; had no injection history; rated physical and mental health as 'fair' or lower (Salvador only); had unprotected sex; were never HIV tested; were not HIV, HBV or HCV positive; and did not use existing social or health services, but desired access to crack user specific services. CONCLUSION: Crack users in the two Brazilian sites featured extensive socio-economic marginalization, crack and poly-drug use as well as sexual risk behaviours, and compromised health status. Social and health service utilization are low, yet needs are high. There is an urgent need for further research and for targeted interventions for crack use in Brazil.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Fatores Socioeconômicos
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Nível de Saúde
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Cocaína Crack
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Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Cocaína
Tipo de estudo:
Health_economic_evaluation
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
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Ethics
/
Patient_preference
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
País/Região como assunto:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Drug Policy
Assunto da revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
/
TRANSTORNOS RELACIONADOS COM SUBSTANCIAS
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Brasil
País de publicação:
Holanda