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C50. Substance addiction consequences: a comparative study of Brazil and Portugal

C50. Substance addiction consequences: a comparative study of Brazil and Portugal

Learner category:

  • Expert Level

Learning objectives:

  • Participants will understand the differences and similarities of the substance addiction consequences in Brazil and Portugal;
  • Participants will compare the profiles of people in specialized public treatment public in Brazil and Portugal.

Abstract

Acting on the consequences of substance addiction has been one of the global goals of public and mental health. Brazil and Portugal may be similar regarding language and culture but differ in development, extension, demographics, health policies, disease burden, and substance use. The mean age of first substance consumption is 16.6 years old in Brazil and 18 in Portugal, for example. The addiction rates of the general population are 1.5% in Brazil and 1.3% in Portugal. The Psychosocial Care Centers in Brazil and the Specialized Treatment Teams with substitution therapies in Portugal are the protagonist’s services to take care of substance users. This study aims to compare the consequences of substance addiction by people in Brazil and Portugal. Data collection carried out in 2019 with 362 users (200 in Brazil and 162 in Portugal), with an application of the Substance Addiction Consequences scale (SAC). The statistical program STATA analyzed the data with descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The main differences between the individuals and the relationship of social condition (work situation, income, and housing), the choice substance (crack and heroin), and psychiatric comorbidities. Portugal has fewer consequences related to consumption when compared to Brazil, from 43.2% to 65%. The most severities dimensions are physical and cognitive skills (average of 2.91 and 3.73) and self-care (average of 3.3, and 3.40). The population of Brazil there is more chance to use cocaine and psychosis, Portugal to use benzodiazepines, tobacco, medications therapies, hepatitis, and personality disorders.

Authors

Gabriella Boska
PhD Student School of Nursing, University of São Paulo

Nurse, postgraduate in alcohol and other drugs, PhD Student in Health Science. Researcher at Research Group of Alcohol and Drugs, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo.

Paulo Seabra
Assistent Professor Nursing School of Lisbon

Nurse, Pos-Doc Researcher NursID – Innovation & Development in Nursing – CINTESIS, FMUP, Porto, Portugal.

Márcia Oliveira
Senior Professor School of Nursing, University of São Paulo

Nurse, Leader of Research Group of Alcohol and Drugs, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo.

Heloísa Claro
Assistant Professor State University of Campinas

Nurse, Pos-Doc Researcher – Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo. Researcher at Group of Alcohol and Drugs, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo.

Ivan Filipe Fernandes
Assistant Professor Federal University of ABC

PhD, Political Scientist.

Comments (4)

  1. suzannealunni@yahoo.com

    Thank you for your presentation!

  2. Dennis Hagarty

    Thank you for the presentation. Interesting comparison between the two countries.

  3. Virginia Coletti

    A wonder comparison, very creative .

  4. Rachel Shuster, BSN, RN, CARN, CAAP

    Thank you for your presentation!

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