Crack users treated in psychiatric emergency units: profile of a series of cases

Abstract

Objective: To establish the sociodemographic profile and of the use of crack and other drugs of a series of cases composed of ten crack users. Methods: This is a descriptive research, conducted in a psychiatric emergency unit in the city of Maringá/PR, through a semi-structured interview script. Results: The surveyed subjects were men, aged between 20 and 49 years, with more than nine years of schooling, separated, fathers, catholic and unemployed. Most of them began using drugs by means of alcohol or tobacco, at 14 years old, on average, customarily smoked crack by using a metal pipe for less than eight years and had already practiced criminal activities with the purpose of acquiring the drug at stake. Conclusion: The users’ profile was similar to what is described in the literature, but presented the level of schooling and the means used to consume crack as specificities.