O crack, uma droga de abuso constituída principalmente por cocaína, continua sendo um grande problema social e de saúde pública. Apesar de vários estudos em modelos animais com outras formas de cocaína, raros são os relatos sobre os efeitos da exposição pulmonar ao crack em roedores, devido à dificuldade de realizar a exposição dos mesmos à droga, o que seria de grande valia, uma vez que eliminaria variáveis encontradas em usuários, como o uso de outras drogas. Assim, o propósito do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos tóxicos, imunotóxicos e ainda, alterações comportamentais de ratos Wistar machos expostos ao crack pela via pulmonar. Inicialmente, foram realizadas determinações de cocaína nas pedras de crack utilizadas e também, a quantidade de crack e tempo de exposição dos animais para obtenção de níveis séricos de cocaína semelhantes àqueles encontrados na literatura, e os dados obtidos foram de: 67% de cocaína no crack e a queima de 250 mg de crack, com exposição dos animais por 10 minutos acarretou em níveis plasmáticos próximos de 170 ng/mL de cocaína. Assim, em cada experimento foram utilizados 30 ratos divididos em 3 grupos iguais, um controle, um experimental e um grupo pair-fed, já que a cocaína promove efeitos anorexígenos que poderiam interferir nas avaliações comportamentais e imunológicas aqui estudadas, e que foram expostos ou não à fumaça resultante de 250 mg de crack, por 10 minutos, duas vezes ao dia, durante 28 dias. Ao final do período experimental, os animais foram submetidos à eutanásia para realização de avaliações bíoquimicas, hematológicas, histopatológicas, análise de órgãos-linfóides, avaliação das respostas imune inata (inflamatória), humoral e a avaliação da reação de hipersensibilidade do tipo IV. Ainda, ao longo do período experimental, estes mesmos animais foram avaliados quanto a possíveis alterações comportamentais e para tal foram utilizados 3 métodos distintos: avaliação cognitiva em labirinto em T, avaliação geral do comportamento em campo aberto e ainda, a avaliação de preferência ou aversão ao odor da droga. A exposição ao crack não resultou em alterações que caracterizem toxicidade em parâmetros clínicos, bioquímicos, hematológicos e histopatológicos; não foram observadas alterações com significado clínico nas avaliações do peso relativo, celularidade, morfometria de órgãos linfoides e fenotipagem de linfócitos esplênicos de ratos expostos à droga. Não houve efeitos imunomodulatórios nas avaliações do burst oxidativo e fagocitose de macrófagos peritoneais e de neutrófilos circulantes, assim como nas avaliações da produção de anticorpos T-dependentes e na reação de hipersensibilidade do tipo IV. Quanto às avaliações comportamentais, os animais expostos à droga apresentaram aumento da atividade locomotora, e uma maior preferência ao odor característico do crack, aparentemente sem prejuízo cognitivo. Em conclusão, a exposição de ratos 2 vezes ao dia, por 28 dias ao crack não promoveu alterações imunotóxicas; por outro lado, comportamentos clássicos da exposição à cocaína foram observados nos animais expostos, evidenciando que o modelo aqui utilizado será de grande utilidade para outros estudos que envolvam drogas de abuso, como possíveis estratégias terapêuticas e o melhor entendimento da toxicocinética de drogas utilizadas pela via pulmonar / Crack cocaine, a drug of abuse that consists mainly of cocaine, remains as a major social and public health problem. Although several studies in animal models with other forms of cocaine, there are few scientific reports on the effects of pulmonary exposure to crack in rodents, this is due to the difficulty of performing their exposure, which would be of great value, since would eliminate variables observed in users, such as the use of other drugs. Initially, the concentration of cocaine in crack samples, as the amount of crack and time of exposure of the animals to obtain serum levels of cocaine similar to those found in the literature were determined, and the data obtained were: 67% of cocaine in crack, and 250 mg of crack, exposing the animals for 10 minutes resulted in plasma levels close to 170 ng/mL of cocaine. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxic effects, immunotoxic and behavioral changes of male Wistar rats exposed to crack cocaine. Thus, in each experiment were used 30 rats divided into three groups, one control, one experimental and one pair-fed, since it is known that cocaine promotes anorexic effects that may interfere with behavioral and immunological assessments that will be studied here, and who were exposed or not to the burning of 250 mg of crack, for 10 minutes, twice daily for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized to perform biochemical evaluation, hematological, histopathological, analysis of lymphoid organs, evaluation of innate immune responses (inflammatory), humoral and the assessment of the type IV hypersensitivity reaction. Still, throughout the experimental period, these same animals were evaluated for possible behavioral changes and were used three different methods: cognitive assessment in T-maze, overall assessment on open field behavior and the evaluation of preference or aversion to the odor of the drug. Exposure to crack cocaine, did not result in changes that characterize toxicity in clinical, biochemical, hematological and histopathological parameters; were not observed clinically meaningful changes in the relative weight ratings, cellularity, morphology of lymphoid organs and phenotyping of splenic lymphocytes from rats exposed to the drug. There was no immunomodulatory effect in the evaluations of oxidative burst and phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages and in circulating neutrophils, and the assessments of the production of T-dependent antibodies and the type IV hypersensitivity reaction. With regard to behavioral assessments, the animals exposed to the drug showed increased locomotor activity, and greater preference to the characteristic odor of crack cocaine, apparently without cognitive impairment. In conclusion, in the exposure model to crack cocaine used here, immunotoxic changes were not evident; by contrast, classic behavior of cocaine exposure were observed in the animals exposed, indicating that the model used herein will be useful for the study of other parameters involving drugs of abuse, in evaluation of therapeutic strategies and a better understanding of drugs toxicokinetics used by the pulmonary route

This thesis was undertaken to assess the characteristics of individuals who smoke crack cocaine and to examine the health-related risks and healthcare needs of this population. A literature review of 147 published articles was conducted to synthesize evidence regarding behaviours associated with crack use and to assess the risks of disease transmission through crack smoking behaviours. Qualitative interviews were subsequently conducted with thirty Ottawa residents who smoke crack to learn about their experiences with healthcare and harm reduction services. Results identified barriers related to accessing primary healthcare and drug treatment programming among people who smoke crack and gaps within existing harm reduction services. Individuals who smoke crack represent a marginalized population who are often missed through traditional health promotion and harm reduction programming. There is a need for increased coverage of current programming and a reduction of factors which currently hinder the delivery and effectiveness of crack-specific harm reduction programs.

This thesis was undertaken to assess the characteristics of individuals who smoke crack cocaine and to examine the health-related risks and healthcare needs of this population. A literature review of 147 published articles was conducted to synthesize evidence regarding behaviours associated with crack use and to assess the risks of disease transmission through crack smoking behaviours. Qualitative interviews were subsequently conducted with thirty Ottawa residents who smoke crack to learn about their experiences with healthcare and harm reduction services. Results identified barriers related to accessing primary healthcare and drug treatment programming among people who smoke crack and gaps within existing harm reduction services. Individuals who smoke crack represent a marginalized population who are often missed through traditional health promotion and harm reduction programming. There is a need for increased coverage of current programming and a reduction of factors which currently hinder the delivery and effectiveness of crack-specific harm reduction programs.

Women who live in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside experience some of the most devastating health problems among residents of British Columbia. While crack cocaine use has been associated with many of these problems, we lack an understanding of how women who use crack cocaine experience these health problems and what they do to manage them. Informed by tenets of intersectionality and social geography, a critical ethnographic approach was used to examine the scope of health concerns experienced by women who are street-involved and use crack cocaine, the strategies they used to manage their health, and the social, economic, political, personal, and historical contexts that influenced these experiences. Data were collected over a seventeen month period and included a cross sectional survey (n=126), participant observations, and interviews (n=53). The women described experiencing poor physical and mental health throughout their lives; many of which were preventable. Respiratory problems, anxiety, sadness and insomnia were the most frequent concerns reported. They endured severe economic deprivation, unstable and unsanitary housing, and relentless violence and public scrutiny across a variety of contexts including their homes and on the street. These experiences were further influenced by structural and interpersonal relations of power operating within the health care, legal, and welfare systems. The women engaged in a several strategies to mitigate the harmful effects of factors that influenced their health including: (a) managing limited financial resources; (b) negotiating the health care system; (c) managing substance use; and (d) managing on your own. These strategies were influenced by the types of concerns experienced, perceptions of their most pressing concern, the nature of interpersonal relations with health care providers, and the limited social and economic resources available. Changes in the organizational policies and practices of the welfare, legal, and health care systems are needed to improve women’s health. Possible strategies include increased access to welfare and safe, affordable housing, safer alternatives to income, and improved collaboration between illness prevention and law enforcement programming. New approaches are required that build on women’s considerable strengths and are sensitive to ways in which gender, race, and class can disrupt opportunities to access services.

This thesis was undertaken to assess the characteristics of individuals who smoke crack cocaine and to examine the health-related risks and healthcare needs of this population. A literature review of 147 published articles was conducted to synthesize evidence regarding behaviours associated with crack use and to assess the risks of disease transmission through crack smoking behaviours. Qualitative interviews were subsequently conducted with thirty Ottawa residents who smoke crack to learn about their experiences with healthcare and harm reduction services. Results identified barriers related to accessing primary healthcare and drug treatment programming among people who smoke crack and gaps within existing harm reduction services. Individuals who smoke crack represent a marginalized population who are often missed through traditional health promotion and harm reduction programming. There is a need for increased coverage of current programming and a reduction of factors which currently hinder the delivery and effectiveness of crack-specific harm reduction programs.

Women who live in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside experience some of the most devastating health problems among residents of British Columbia. While crack cocaine use has been associated with many of these problems, we lack an understanding of how women who use crack cocaine experience these health problems and what they do to manage them. Informed by tenets of intersectionality and social geography, a critical ethnographic approach was used to examine the scope of health concerns experienced by women who are street-involved and use crack cocaine, the strategies they used to manage their health, and the social, economic, political, personal, and historical contexts that influenced these experiences. Data were collected over a seventeen month period and included a cross sectional survey (n=126), participant observations, and interviews (n=53). The women described experiencing poor physical and mental health throughout their lives; many of which were preventable. Respiratory problems, anxiety, sadness and insomnia were the most frequent concerns reported. They endured severe economic deprivation, unstable and unsanitary housing, and relentless violence and public scrutiny across a variety of contexts including their homes and on the street. These experiences were further influenced by structural and interpersonal relations of power operating within the health care, legal, and welfare systems. The women engaged in a several strategies to mitigate the harmful effects of factors that influenced their health including: (a) managing limited financial resources; (b) negotiating the health care system; (c) managing substance use; and (d) managing on your own. These strategies were influenced by the types of concerns experienced, perceptions of their most pressing concern, the nature of interpersonal relations with health care providers, and the limited social and economic resources available. Changes in the organizational policies and practices of the welfare, legal, and health care systems are needed to improve women’s health. Possible strategies include increased access to welfare and safe, affordable housing, safer alternatives to income, and improved collaboration between illness prevention and law enforcement programming. New approaches are required that build on women’s considerable strengths and are sensitive to ways in which gender, race, and class can disrupt opportunities to access services.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This master s dissertation is conceived from our uneasiness since the Crack Epidemic has become a phenomenon socially known through several news, reports and campaigns broadcasted by means of mass communication. Based on the concept of ideology, the general objective was to analyze how the crack users attending a Psychosocial Attention Center Alcohol and Drugs perceive the symbolic forms transmitted on the television campaign Crack nem pensar (in Eglish, Crack? No way! ). The specific objectives were: to know how the users feel and what they think when watching the television campaign Crack nem pensar ; to analyze how the users interpret the constructions of themselves represented in the campaign; to analyze how they perceive the constructions of the drug transmitted by the campaign; to identify and interpret possible relations of domination (ideology) established in the participants speech with regard to the campaign; and reflect, through the experience of the groups, on the possibility of creating new forms of approaching the theme. Through the dialogical meetings, we proposed the construction of a communication space understood as the right to say their word, and express their opinion. Based on the theoretical perspective of the Critical Social Psychology and on the methodological pressupositions of the Deep Hermeneutics, we used as a method the conduction of observation-making on the part of the participants, the writing of a field diary and the establishment of Roundtable Conversations . For conducting the Roundtable Conversations , the Focus Group technique was used. Three groups were formed in a total of 16 speekers. The data were submitted to analysis forming three theoretical axis, conceiving the modern western culture as the main axis: modern projects and the production of human dregs of society ; the television as the agorá of the modern societies; and the drug myth. Several ideological strategies were identified in this research (e.g. naturalization, eternalization, differenciation, universalization, among others). By using modes of subjectivity expression , the group demonstrated not only a therapeutic character but also a political character. Moreover, the Roundtable Conversations highlighted the speekers critical posture regarding the campaign under debate, and in spite of their agreement with the importance of the theme being broadcasted by the media, they believe that the adds escaped from reality . For them, the adds can contribute to increased prejuice on the part of the population toward the drug users. Thus, the Roundtable Conversations went beyond the debate over the campaign Crack nem pensar , in which the notion of subjectivity was crucial to the analyses. / Essa dissertação de mestrado nasce de nossas inquietações desde que a Epidemia do Crack passou a ser um fenômeno conhecido socialmente a partir de diversas matérias, reportagens e campanhas veiculadas pelos meios de comunicação de massa. Tomando o conceito de ideologia como referência, o objetivo geral foi o de analisar como os usuários de crack, inseridos em um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial Álcool e Drogas, percebem as formas simbólicas veiculadas na campanha televisiva Crack nem pensar . Os objetivos específicos foram: conhecer o que os usuários sentem e pensam ao assistir a campanha televisiva Crack nem pensar ; analisar como os usuários interpretam as construções sobre eles mesmos presentes na campanha; analisar como eles percebem as construções sobre a droga veiculadas na campanha; identificar e interpretar possíveis relações de dominação (ideologia) presentes no discurso dos participantes em relação à campanha; e refletir, a partir da experiência dos grupos, sobre a possibilidade de criar novas formas de abordar o tema. Através dos encontros dialógicos, propomos a construção de um espaço de comunicação, entendido como o direito de dizer sua palavra, expressar sua opinião. Pautados na perspectiva teórica da Psicologia Social Crítica e nos pressupostos metodológicos da Hermenêutica de Profundidade, utilizamos como método a realização de observações participantes, escrita de um diário de campo e a constituição de Rodas de Conversa . Para a realização das Rodas de Conversa , foi utilizada a técnica de Grupos Focais. Foram realizados três grupos, totalizando 16 interlocutores. Os dados foram submetidos à análise, formando três eixos teóricos, e concebendo a cultura moderna ocidental como eixo norteador: os projetos modernos e a produção de refugo humano ; a televisão como agorá das sociedades modernas; e o mito das drogas. Inúmeras foram as estratégias ideológicas identificadas nessa pesquisa (e.g. naturalização, eternalização, diferenciação, universalização, dentre outras). Ao colocar em funcionamento modos de expressão de subjetividade , o grupo evidenciou seu caráter não apenas terapêutico, mas político. Além disso, as Rodas de Conversa salientaram a postura crítica dos interlocutores em relação à campanha debatida e, apesar de concordarem com a importância da veiculação do tema na mídia, acreditam que as propagandas fugiram da realidade . Para eles, as propagandas podem colaborar no aumento do preconceito da população em relação aos usuários de drogas. Dessa forma, as Rodas de Conversa foram além do debate sobre a campanha Crack nem pensar , tendo a noção de subjetividade sido fundamental nas análises.

Introdução: O uso do crack constitui-se um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública na atua-lidade. O crack apresenta-se como uma nova forma de uso da cocaína, com padrão de uso cada vez mais intenso e compulsivo, ocasionando inúmeras intercorrências e implicações sociais e a saúde, levando o usuário a busca de tratamento. Objetivo: Conhecer a trajetória de tratamento do usuário de Crack em serviço ambulatorial de Atenção Psicossocial – CAPSAD III, através das narrativas sobre o consumo e busca por serviço especializado na rede pública de saúde. Método: Estudo qualitativo de uma amostra intencional de doze usuários de crack, sendo oito homens e quatro mulheres, em tratamento no CAPS ad III no município de João Pessoa/PB. Os dados foram explorados utilizando-se a técnica de análise de conteúdo. Instrumentos: Foi uti-lizada como instrumento de investigação, entrevista semiestruturada individual para a coleta dos dados sociodemográficos e das narrativas sobre o uso do crack e busca por tratamento. Foram aplicados o Questionário da Trajetória do Usuário de Crack/QTTUC e a Escala de Re-caída para usuários de crack – ERUC, porém os dados serão analisados e publicados em artigos posteriormente. Resultados: Os achados apontam dificuldades de acesso aos serviços especi-alizados, ocorrendo mais de uma tentativa para conseguir tratamento na rede pública de saúde e observa-se que os serviços da atenção básica e rede hospitalar, ainda não se encontram pre-parados para atendimento as demandas oriundas dos usuários de crack. Além da relevância do tratamento ambulatorial, evidencia-se a necessidade de serviços da assistência social para reta-guarda aos usuários em situação de extrema vulnerabilidade social. Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem a implementação de programas que possam facilitar o acesso de usuários de crack aos serviços do Sistema único de Saúde- SUS, qua / Background: Today, crack addiction is one of the major public health issues. Crack is as a new way of cocaine use, with intense and compulsive brains and body effects, resulting in a huge social complications, as well as health implications, leading to seek treatment. Aims: Under-stand the trajectory of crack addicted while in treatment at clinic of Psychosocial Care – CAPS AD III, through narratives about consumption and seeking for specialized doctors from public 8 health system care. Method: Qualitative study; convenience sample of 12 crack addicted, 8 men and 4 women, undergoing treatment at CAPS ad in the city of João Pessoa / PB. We review the data through content analysis technique. Instruments: We made a semi-structured inter-view for each subject for demographic data collection, as well as we collected narratives about the consumption of crack and treatment. We applied questionnaire of crack User trajec-tory/QTTUC and Crack Use Relapse Scale (CURS), but the data will be analyzed and published later. Results: These findings indicate that accessing specialized services is a tough pathway. Usually, the health public consumer must go there more than one time to be attend. In addition, the public health system still have not enough structure to attend demands from crack users. Be-sides the relevance of clinic treatment, it is highlighted that social services is essential for users supporting. Conclusion: The results suggest that is mandatory develop and execute programs that would facilitate crack users access to the Public Health System. To sum up, increase quality actions at different levels of health care and improve the relapse prevention process is central to crack users avoid relapses while in treatment.

O tema central desta dissertação é a discussão sobre a origem social dos usuários de crack, a quem chamaremos aqui de abandonados. Defendemos a tese do abandono social como proposta alternativa na compreensão do consumo de crack nas metrópoles periféricas. Conduzimos um estudo qualitativo na cidade de Porto Alegre/Brasil, utilizando o método da análise de narrativas e reconstrução das histórias de vida (ROSENTHAL, 1993). Entrevistamos homens e mulheres em situação de desfavorecimento social e histórico de consumo de substâncias. Os dados analisados consistiram em textos transcritos de uma série de entrevistas narrativas biográficas, bem como entrevistas com agentes institucionais ligados aos abandonados. Partimos das recentes discussões no âmbito da sociologia sobre trabalho e desigualdades sociais (CASTEL, 1998, 2000), classes sociais no Brasil e teorias da modernização (SOUZA, 2000, 2009), bem como os debates da filosofia política sobre a teoria do reconhecimento (FRASER; HONNETH, 2003). Evidenciamos através da pesquisa empírica que o consumo de crack está intimamente relacionado a condições sociais de produção e reprodução de papeis sociais, distribuídos diferencialmente entre classes, sendo a “questão do crack”, como posta no desenvolvimento atual, essencialmente uma questão social. Discutimos o conceito de milieux sociais como ferramenta analítica para compreensão de uma variedade de performances de classe no uso de crack por grupos diversos. Sobre a diferença da experiência entre homens e mulheres, discutimos sobre os padrões impeditivos no acesso a bens culturais e a potencialidade para os movimentos sociais articularem uma gramática para a superação do abandono nas lutas político identitárias de gênero. / This thesis focuses on the discussions of the social origins of crack-cocaine users, whom we call abandoned. We defend the social abandonment thesis as an alternative proposal to understand the recent phenomenon of widespread crack-cocaine consumption in Brazilian cities. We conducted a qualitative study in Porto Alegre / Brazil, using narrative analysis method and reconstruction of life stories (Rosenthal, 1993). Men and women in situations of social disadvantage and history of substance abuse were interviewed. The data analyzed consisted of transcribed texts of a series of biographical narrative interviews as well as interviews with institutional agents linked to the abandoned. Our theoretical framework was the recent sociology of work and social inequalities discussions (CASTEL, 1998, 2000), social classes in Brazil and modernization theories (SOUZA, 2000, 2009), as well as discussions of political philosophy focusing the recognition theory (FRASER; HONNETH, 2003). We demonstrated through empirical research data that crack-cocaine consumption is closely related to social conditions of production and reproduction of social roles, differentially distributed between classes, and the "crack issue" is essentially a social issue as put in the current development. We brought into discussion the milieux concept as analytical tool to understand a variety of class performances and different uses of crack-cocaine between various groups. Regarding the difference of experience between men and women, we reflect upon impeditive standards on access to cultural goods and the potential for social movements to articulate a grammar to overcome the abandonment through political identity struggles of gender.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-04T19:14:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-06-02 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A história das substâncias psicoativas nos mostra que elas sempre existiram. E anuncia que perdurarão (como as famílias), mesmo porque, apesar de terem passado por longo processo de criminalização até serem tornadas ilícitas por obscuros critérios, algumas dessas medidas foram revistas (e continuam sendo), e certas substâncias tornadas ilícitas nos EUA anteriormente, como as bebidas alcóolicas, não só tiveram sua licitude readquirida, como foram estimuladas em países como o Brasil. E as que se estabeleceram enquanto ilícitas como a cocaína, contemporaneamente reconfiguram as vidas de todos nesses territórios. A realidade se impôs. E o uso de cocaína não foi suspenso. Sua proibição produz um tipo de guerra na qual morrem usuários e não usuários. Porém, mesmo tratando-se de um fenômeno complexo, com tantas variáveis relativas aos usuários e às substâncias lícitas e ilícitas, o Estado brasileiro opta por entregar as últimas nas mãos de milionários traficantes, para, em seguida, esses comercializarem clandestinamente as mesmas substâncias tornadas ilícitas pelo Estado. No entanto, esse mesmo Estado que determina a proibição que gera a guerra também investe – potência humana e capital econômico - para vigiar, disciplinar, punir, controlar e também tratar os envolvidos mais diretos no fenômeno das drogas, quando não decide exterminá-los. Visto que as ações de prevenção e de repressão, quando realizadas pelo Estado, falharam, a variedade de substâncias e o uso crescem cotidianamente. O medo - e a desinformação - fomentado pela mídia também. Logo, a dependência por substâncias aumenta. Esta etnografia descreve dois anos da construção da política de drogas do Estado de São Paulo por meio do Programa Recomeço. E apresenta também – e principalmente - duas famílias que foram buscar apoio no Programa Recomeço. Quis saber quem são. De onde vêm. E o que pensam sobre o fenômeno. Duas mulheres que, com suas teorias, descreveram seus dramas. Duas mães. Duas negras. Rebeca e Bete. Duas traduções. Duas apostas. Escolhas diferentes para um mesmo fenômeno. Observar a construção da política estadual de drogas de São Paulo. E depois fixar o olhar nas famílias dos usuários de substâncias tornadas ilícitas revela também uma etnografia das políticas públicas. Sendo assim, o principal fluxo desta pesquisa etnográfica é descrever e traduzir repetições e diferenças: movimentos. / History shows us that psychoactive substances have always existed, and indicates that – much like families – these substances will always continue to exist. Psychoactive substances have passed through a long process of criminalization and have been made illegal based on obscure criteria; nevertheless, some of these legal measures have been (and continue to be) reviewed. As a result, certain substances previously made illegal in the United States – such as alcoholic beverages – not only became legal once again; their use has also stimulated in countries such as Brazil. Drugs long established as illegal, like cocaine, reconfigure our lives across different territories. Reality imposes itself, and the use of cocaine has not ended. Instead, prohibiting cocaine produces a type of war in which both users and non-users die. However, even though drug use is a complex phenomenon, with many different variables among users and among both permitted and illicit substances, the Brazilian state opts to deliver illicit drugs into the hands of millionaire drug traffickers. These traffickers, in turn, commercialize – in a clandestine way – the same substances that the government has made illicit. Yet this state, responsible for determining the prohibition that leads to war, also invests both human and economic capital in guarding, disciplining, punishing, controlling, and treating the people most directly involved with drugs (that is, when it does not exterminate them). Given that the state’s actions to prevent and repress the use of drugs has failed, the variety of substances available increases on an almost daily basis, as does their use. Simultaneously, the fear and disinformation spread by the media also increases. Therefore, society’s dependence on substances increases. This ethnography describes two years of drug policy in São Paulo state, Brazil, through the Re-beginning Program (Programa Recomeço). The study’s principal focus is on understanding two families that sought support through the Re-beginning Program: who they are, where they are from, and what they think about the phenomenon of drugs. Two women, through their own theories, describe the dramatic situations in which they live. Two mothers. Two Black women. Rebeca and Beth. Two translations. Two wagers. Different choices based on the same phenomenon. The study observes the construction of drug policy in the state of São Paulo before turning its gaze toward the families of people who use drugs classified as illegal. Thus, the principal aim of this ethnography is to describe and translate repetitions, differences, and movements. / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações