Cocaine Use in Brazil – Patient Profiles, Drug Histories and Patterns of Use _

Acesse: Cocaine Use in Brazil Patient Profiles Drug Histories and Patterns of Use.pdf

Cocaine Use in Brazil – Patient Profiles, Drug Histories and Patterns of Use _

John Dunn, and Ronaldo Laranjeira
We studied profiles and drug histories of 294 cocaine users from 15 treatment services in São Paulo, Brazil. Mean age of subjects was 27 years and 90% were male. Over 50% had used five different substances apart from cocaine, usually tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, tranquillisers and solvents. Mean age at first cocaine use was 18.9 years when 87% had snorted the drug. Thirty-two percent had injected cocaine, 82% had smoked crack and 74% reported a full transition of route. Sixty-three percent reported daily cocaine use. Median duration of cocaine use was 6.3 years. Acts of acquisitive crime were common and 56% had been arrested. Our finding are discussed in terms of implications for prevention and treatment.