Social construction of drugs and crack and the institutional responses and therapeutic approaches

Abstract

This article is a partial product of a research conducted in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte in order to understand the mechanisms involved in the social and symbolic link between trafficking of crack cocaine and the spread of violence, compulsive use of this substance, treatments and health care services attention tofor the users. We used qQuantitative and qualitative methods were used, with analysis of police investigations, interviews with police, drug dealers and, professionals, patients and managers of institutions that offer services to crack users. It is intendedThe aim is to discuss the social construction of the drug problem; socially constructed negative images about theof crack and the users of the this substance; institutional responses that, based on biomedical models, religious and legal models offer, manage and legitimize homogeneous bureaucratic protocols for different homogeneous types of users. Socially constructed representations directly affect lack of success in the treatment process, frustration and lack of faith on the part of the health care professionals and the frequent relapses and re-hospitalizations of patients, especially crack users. Besides playing reproducing an obsolete prohibitionist policy obsolete, they reinforce prejudices, and lead to discriminatory enforcement measures result, rejecting passing over citizens’hip rights.