SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL PROFILES OF ABUSIVE USERS OF PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

Abstract

Abusive use of psychoactive substances (SPA) can unleash diverse biopsychosocial problems, becoming necessary a constant evaluation to know profile of users, trying to subsidize decision making for prevention policies about its use and users care. The objective of this work is to describe sociodemographic and clinical profiles of people who abusively use SPA. This article is a transversal research with quantitative approach, developed with 605 users suffering from disorders related to abusive use of SPA monitored by health services from eight municipalities of the 11^th health region of Ceará state, in which we collected data through a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, utilizing semi structured interview. From data analysis, we observed majority was of male sex, single, young adult, mulattos, catholic, with incomplete primary school studies, unemployed, with family income lower than minimum wage, living in own home with one to three residents per household, with considerable clinical and psychiatric comorbidity. Therefore, defining profile of users of SPA allows development of actions focused on this population demands and reality, subsidizing effective care strategies in mental health area and psychosocial attention.