Recent advances in HIV antiretroviral therapy and the availability of prophylaxis for opportunistic infections, combined with the opportunity to prevent perinatal HIV infection, underscores the value of early diagnosis of HIV infection. HIV antibody home test kits offer individuals the opportunity to collect a blood sample, send it anonymously to a laboratory, and receive counseling and referral over the phone. Home HIV testing may reduce barriers to testing that have precluded individuals from learning their HIV serostatus, and if seropositive, from taking advantage of efficacious therapeutic and preventive regimens. This study employed a randomized-controlled prospective field trial design to determine if the availability of home testing increased HIV testing relative to traditional counseling and testing among injecting drug users in three HIV prevention/drug treatment contexts; methadone maintenance, hospital-based detoxification, and syringe exchange. Theoretical correlates to HIV testing were also evaluated. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that participants randomized to home testing were 2.2 times more likely than those randomized to traditional counseling and testing to test for HIV antibodies in this study after controlling for demographic, HIV risk, and theoretical variables. No differences were observed between testing methods with regard to obtaining HIV test results. The relationship between HIV testing and test type was moderated by drug treatment context and history of homeless, with home testing resulting in increased testing among methadone participants and persons without a history of homelessness. Analyses of theoretical variables suggested that prevention education stressing the benefits of HIV testing, personal risk of HIV infection, and efficacy of available treatments could increase HIV testing among injecting drug users. Participants randomized to home testing were more satisfied with testing and telephone-based counseling than were those receiving traditional testing and face-to-face counseling. Home testing was associated with increased testing perhaps due to reduced barriers to testing. To further reduce barriers to testing and to increase testing among injecting drug users, consideration should be given to incorporating oral fluid testing and rapid result capability in home test kits. Counseling could be made available as needed, delivered by telephone, and contingent upon the volitional control of the testing consumer.

Studien har gjorts mot bakgrund av den pågående diskussionen gällande införandet av sprutbytesverksamhet i Jönköpings län och vill till den diskussionen tillföra de skilda erfarenheterna som finns i fyra olika existerande sprutbytesprogrammen i Sverige, att jämföra likheter och skillnader i praxis och att relatera dessa erfarenheter till deras mål och resurser. Trots att lagen om sprutbyte trädde i kraft år 2006 är sprutbyte fortfarande ett kontroversiellt ämne i Sverige. I denna omtvistade form av preventiv verksamhet finns det dock en viktig del som gör ämnet mer relevant och det är de goda, sociala bieffekter som programmen medför. Dessa omnämns i studien som paramedicinsk vård. Metoden som ligger till grund för studien är kvalitativa, semistrukturerade intervjuer. Materialet har sedan analyserats för betydelsen av sitt innehåll och genom organisationsteori. Utgångspunkten är avhandlingar, vetenskapliga artiklar och litteratur i ämnet sprutbyte. Vid sprutbytesprogrammen i Sverige skiljer sig uppfattningarna åt gällande behovet och implementeringen av den paramedicinska vården i verksamheten. Likaså går åsikterna isär mellan de forskare, politiker och professionellt verksamma som intervjuats. En gemensam nämnare är dock synen på paramedicin i stort som något betydelsefullt för personer i aktivt missbruk, oavsett om det är landstinget eller socialtjänsten som bedriver den. Studiens konklusion blir således att denna form av verksamhet kräver ett holistiskt perspektiv av den vård som ska bedrivas. Samarbete utanför landstingens och kommunens gränser verkar gynnande. Landstinget har större inflytande än kommunen men kommunen har å andra sidan större resurser när det gäller paramedicinska vårdinsatser. I de landsting där eventuella sprutbytesverksamheter diskuteras kan studien ge exempel på goda respektive mindre goda paramedicinska insatser vid de program som idag är verksamma. / In light of the ongoing discussion regarding the possible introduction of needle exchange programs in Jönköping county, this study aims to compare similarities and differences in practice at four different needle exchange programs in Sweden and to relate these experiences to their objectives and resources. Despite the fact that the law of needle exchange entered into force 2006, needle exchange programs are still a controversial subject of discussion in Sweden. In this contested form of infection care there is an important part though which makes the subject more legitimate. That is the positive social side effects which come as a result of the programs. These effects are mentioned in the study as paramedic care. The method underlying the study is qualitative, semi structured interviews. The material has been analyzed for the relevance of its content and also through organization theory. The starting point is theses, scientific articles and literature on the subject of needle exchange. At the needle exchange programs in Sweden the perceptions regarding the need for and the implementation of paramedical care differs as well as the views of researchers, politicians and professionally active that we interviewed on the subject. A common denominator, however, is the perception of paramedical care at large as something significant for people in active addiction, whether it is the country council or the social services that engaged in it. The conclusion of the study is thus that this form of activities requires a holistic perspective of the care that should be conducted. Cooperation outside the county and municipal boundaries seems favorable. The county councils have more influence than the municipalities but the municipalities on the other hand have greater resources in terms of paramedical care efforts. In the county councils where any needle exchange activities are up for discussion this study could give examples on favorable and less favorable paramedical activities at programs that are currently active.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 46-04, page: 2054. Adviser: Jan M. H. Risser. Includes bibliographical references.

This diploma thesis is focused on testing drug users. Specifically, this thesis is concerned with testing drug users in low-threshold centres.These low-threshold centres for drug users operate in the area of secondary and tertiary prevention. Furthermore, it describes individual diseases such as HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis, their mode of transmission, clinical course, diagnosis, treatment and possible prevention, drug policy of the Czech Republic, the conditions for testing the abovementioned diseases in low-threshold centres and the legal framework for testing at these facilities.The practical part is divided into several research studies.The qualitative research is aimed at low-threshold centres. In this part, I am trying to determine the number of HIV, HBV and HCV tests performed in 2014. Next, the purpose of this section is also to define where the testing takes place and who is tested. The research data were obtained using a questionnaire distributed to the low-threshold centres in the CR. According to the Annual Report on Drug Epidemiology from 2014, there are 76 low-threshold centres in the Czech Rep. A total of 32 questionnaires were collected. The questionnaire consisted of 32 questions. Close-ended questions were used to detect the type of facility, whether the facility carries out tests for the chosen types of diseases, what type of test is used, who performs the testing and where the testing is carried out. Open-ended questions were used to determine the number of people tested. The qualitative research consists of 18 interviews with drug users from the Contact Centre Český Krumlov. Thanks to its field program, this centre operates in Český Krumlov, Větřní, Kaplice, Horní Planá, Loučovice, Frymburk, Vyšší Brod and in border regions such as Horní and Dolní Dvořiště or Studánky where the drug abuse is very problematic. The data were collected using a semistructured anonymous interview. The interview consisted of 4 areas:Data for identification purposes. Drug history.Testing.Awareness.30 questionnaires received from the respondents at the Prevent Contact Centre in České Budějovice can be found in the Appendix. The data were collected using an anonymous questionnaire which consisted of three basic areas. The collected data included drug history and identification information, information about testing for infectious diseases and knowledge of health risks. The thesis states 6 goals. The first 3 goals deal with mapping of HBV, HCV and HIV testing among drug users at low-threshold centres in 2014. The purpose of the fourth goal is to determine how the testing is carried out in low-threshold centres. The fifth goal attempts to establish whether drug users are interested in HBV, HCV and HIV testing. Finally, the sixth goal determines whether drug users were tested in 2014.After processing the results I established the following hypotheses which resulted from the research.H1: Drug users are interested in their health.H2:Drug users are aware of risks that result from these diseases.H3: The possibility of testing at low-threshold centres is not chosen very often by drug users.The research showed that drug users have adequate information about the risks that are associated with drug injection and injecting equipment sharing, but the average amount of performed tests is relatively low.To sum up, drug users need to be constantly informed about the importance of regular testing. In order to increase the number of tested people, it would be advisable to adapt the testing to the users' needs and also to perform more tests within field programs. It would also be helpful to link health facilities to contact centres locally.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-02-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:26:21Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000737853.pdf: 1783965 bytes, checksum: 1407d54da24cdec20bbe43b9c8484628 (MD5) / O consumo crescente e precoce de substâncias psicoativas acarretou, em todas as partes do mundo, importantes questões sociais e de saúde, demandando o aprofundamento compreensivo das experiências dos atores envolvidos no processo. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho objetivou compreender a interação de alunos adolescentes, com as substâncias psicoativas e desenvolver um modelo teórico representativo desta experiência. Teve como população alvo 21 alunos do terceiro ano do ensino médio de uma escola pública estadual do município de Penápolis/SP, mediante aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa, UNESP-Araçatuba, com o referencial teórico Interacionismo Simbólico, referencial metodológico Grounded Theory ou Teoria Fundamentada em Dados (TFD) e técnica de coleta de dados grupos focais. O referencial metodológico possibilitou a identificação da categoria central representativa da experiência dos alunos com substâncias psicoativas, “Movendo-se entre a experimentação e a dependência: o autocontrole do adolescente como componente interveniente.”. Este processo é constituído por três subprocessos ou categorias, que representam o significado simbólico da experiência dos alunos com as substâncias psicoativas: Iniciando a interação com o álcool e com o cigarro – o álcool é a substância inicial, consumida para acompanhar os amigos, superar tristezas, obter prazer e coragem e enfrentar as situações próprias da adolescência. As bebidas de predileção são a cerveja e vodka com energético, consumidas abusivamente em festas open bar, momento em que experimentam o cigarro e Narguile, com a possibilidade de agregar outros psicoativos. Mantendo o controle: Vivenciando a fase de experimentação – A incorporação da maconha e da cocaína é uma segunda fase de experimentação, que ocorre de modo coletivo em festas rotineiras. A maconha é a mais consumida, seguida pela cocaína que é... / The growing consumption of psychoactive substances and led early in all parts of the world, important social and health issues, requiring a deeper understanding of the experiences of the actors involved in the process. Thus, the present study aimed to understand the interaction of adolescent students with psychoactive substances and develop a theoretical model of this experience. Target population was 21 students of the third year of high school to a public school in the municipality of Penápolis / SP, with the approval of the Ethics Committee in Research, UNESP-Araçatuba, with Symbolic Interactionism theoretical, methodological reference Grounded Theory or Theory Based on data (TFD) and technical data collection focus groups. The methodological framework enabled the identification of the core category Moving between experimentation and addiction: the self as a component of the adolescent actor.. This process consists of three sub-processes or categories, which represent the symbolic meaning of the students' experience with psychoactive substances: Starting interaction with alcohol and cigarettes - alcohol is starting substance, consumed to keep up with friends, overcome grief, get pleasure and courage and face the situations own adolescence. The predilection drinks are beer and vodka with energy consumed abusively open bar at parties, at which time try cigarettes and Narghile, with the possibility of adding other psychoactive. Keeping control: Experiencing the experimentation phase - Incorporation of marijuana and cocaine is a second phase of testing, which occurs at parties so collective routine. Marijuana is the most commonly used, followed by cocaine which is used as a strategy to stop the effects of alcohol abuse, finding no impediments to consumption. They point to the ease of access by ace drug availability and lack of supervision combined with the household consumption of alcohol, tobacco ...

Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-17T19:34:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-10-09. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-06-18T12:47:24Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000831452.pdf: 781954 bytes, checksum: 970e40d7dab2ad33ff145f6f1848850e (MD5) / A presente pesquisa investiga os diferentes fatores que podem ser prognósticos para o tempo de permanência de dependentes de álcool e drogas em tratamento em uma Comunidade Tera-pêutica, assim como para o abandono, considerando que o tempo de tratamento inferior a três meses e o abandono são fatores prognósticos para a recidiva. Para isto foi realizado um estudo longitudinal num grupo de dependentes de álcool e drogas em tratamento numa Comunidade Terapêutica, visando avaliar as condições sociodemográficas, gravidade da dependência e a presença de ansiedade e depressão no início do tratamento. O desfecho do tratamento foi ava-liado a partir de uma variável contínua (tempo de permanência - dias) e uma categorizada (abandono - conclusão). Foram também avaliados, de forma univariada e multivariada, os diferentes fatores que podem estar associados a estas duas variáveis, buscando compreender melhor o que colabora com o abandono precoce do tratamento (menos de 90 dias de perma-nência) e, consequentemente, com a recidiva. A pesquisa contou com 91 sujeitos, dos quais 67 (74,0%) abandonaram o tratamento, sendo 45 (67,0%) dos casos abandono precoce. As principais faixas etárias foram 25-35 anos (38,5%) e 36-50 anos (29,7%). Em relação a outros dados sociodemográficos, 41,7% foram solteiros, 72,5% com baixo nível de escolaridade, 36,3% estavam trabalhando antes da internação, 65,0% de classe média, 54,9% brancos, 44,0% evangélicos/protestantes e 41,7% católicos. A principal droga de abuso foi o crack (60,4%), seguida do álcool (33,0%). 41,8% relataram tempo de uso de 11 a 20 anos, 75,8% foram tabagistas, 30,8% usavam medicação psicoativa ao ingressar ao tratamento e 67,0% relataram haver outros dependentes de álcool e drogas na família de convivência. 52,7% tive-ram outras internações em Comunidade Terapêutica, 19,8% já estiveram na mesma Comuni-dade Terapêutica deste estudo e 38,5% já tinham sido presos. Em ... / The present paper aims investigate the different factors that can be prognostics to time of permanence of alcohol and drugs dependents in treatment on a Therapeutic Community, as well as to dropout, considering that time of treatment lower than three months and dropout are prognostic factors to relapse. For this longitudinal study was conducted in a group of alcohol and drugs dependents in treatment on a Therapeutic Community, to evaluate the so-ciodemographic characteristics, severity of dependence and the presence of anxiety and de-pression at start of treatment. The treatment outcome was assessed using a continuous varia-ble (time of permanence - days) and a categorized (dropout - conclusion). The different fac-tors that can be associated to this two variables have been assessed, univariate and multivar-iate form, aiming better comprehension what collaborates with early dropout (less than 90 days of permanence) and, consequently, to recurrence. The survey had 91 subjects, of whom 67 (74.0%) dropped out of treatment, with 45 (67.0%) cases of early dropout. The main age ranges were 25-35 years old (38.5%) and 36-50 years old (29.7%). Regarding other socio-demographic data, 41.7% were single, 72.5% with low education level, 36.3% were working before admission, 65.0% middle class, 54.9% white, 44.0% evangelical/protestant and 41.7% catholic. The main drug of abuse was crack (60.4%), followed by alcohol (33.0%). 41.8% reported time of use between 11 to 20 years, 75.8% were smokers, 30.8% used psychoactive medication at entering in treatment and 67.0% reported alcohol and other drugs dependents in the family of cohabitation. 52.7% had other admissions in Therapeutic Community, 19.8% have been in the same Therapeutic Community of this study and 38.5% had been arrested. Regarding the presence of anxiety and depression at the beginning of treatment, low levels have been found, being the probable score on 19.0% for anxiety and 7.0% for ...

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-13T12:10:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-01-15. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-07-13T12:25:40Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000837719.pdf: 365147 bytes, checksum: 73101e47006a181df0a50ec6fc4d613f (MD5) / O presente estudo tem como objetivo conhecer os itinerários terapêuticos dos usuários de álcool e outras drogas de um município de grande porte no Estado de São Paulo e investigar a percepção dos gestores e trabalhadores da saúde sobre a rede de atenção à saúde ao usuário de álcool e outras drogas e identificar quais os serviços que compõem essa rede. Foi realizada uma pesquisa de campo, de outubro de 2013 a março de 2014, em um centro de Atenção Psicossocial álcool e drogas (CAPSad), Hospital Psiquiátrico, Atenção Básica (AB) e Direção Regional de saúde (DRS). Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram quatro usuários de álcool e outras drogas, três trabalhadores da saúde e três gestores. Foi utilizado, como instrumento de coleta de dados, o roteiro de entrevista aberta para que os participantes pudessem produzir as narrativas. Os resultados mostram que o itinerário terapêutico dos participantes é plural, contemplando o cuidado informal dos familiares, a crença religiosa e os cuidados profissionais, não se restringindo somente às instituições de saúde mental. Os sujeitos tendem a recorrer simultaneamente a diversos lugares em busca do cuidado. Verificou-se que os usuários circulam em uma rede de cuidados pouco articulada, que reflete diretamente no itinerário terapêutico deles, fixando-os em determinados serviços. Concluímos que a rede ao usuário, muitas vezes, é compreendida somente como serviços especializados, como o CAPSad e lugares para internação. Frente aos resultados, destaca-se a necessidade de aprimorar a atenção ao usuário de álcool e outras drogas por meio de uma rede de atenção à saúde articulada e que atue na lógica da atenção psicossocial / This study aimed to assess the therapeutic itineraries of users of alcohol and other drugs from a large city in the state of São Paulo and investigate the perception of managers and health workers on the network of health care to the user of alcohol and other drugs and identify which services make this network. A field survey was held from October 2013 to March 2014 in a center of Psychosocial Care alcohol and drugs (CAPSad), Psychiatric Hospital, Primary Care (AB) and Regional Health Directorate (DRS). Survey subjects were four users of alcohol and other drugs, three health workers and three managers. Was used as data collection instrument the interview script opened to the subjects to produce narratives. The results showed that the therapeutic path of participants is plural, contemplating the informal care of family, religious beliefs and professional care, not limited mental health institutions only. The subjects tend to resort simultaneously to several places in search of care. However users circulating in a network of little articulated care, which directly reflects the therapeutic itinerary of these users, fixing them in certain services. We conclude that the network to the user, it is often understood only as specialized services such as CAPSad and places to hospital. Based on the results stands out the need to improve the attention to the user of alcohol and other drugs; through a network of articulated attention to health and that they act in the logic of psychosocial care

Orientador: Florence Kerr-Corrêa / Banca: Ricardo César Torresan / Banca: Adriana Marcassa Tucci / Resumo: A presente pesquisa investiga os diferentes fatores que podem ser prognósticos para o tempo de permanência de dependentes de álcool e drogas em tratamento em uma Comunidade Tera-pêutica, assim como para o abandono, considerando que o tempo de tratamento inferior a três meses e o abandono são fatores prognósticos para a recidiva. Para isto foi realizado um estudo longitudinal num grupo de dependentes de álcool e drogas em tratamento numa Comunidade Terapêutica, visando avaliar as condições sociodemográficas, gravidade da dependência e a presença de ansiedade e depressão no início do tratamento. O desfecho do tratamento foi ava-liado a partir de uma variável contínua (tempo de permanência - dias) e uma categorizada (abandono - conclusão). Foram também avaliados, de forma univariada e multivariada, os diferentes fatores que podem estar associados a estas duas variáveis, buscando compreender melhor o que colabora com o abandono precoce do tratamento (menos de 90 dias de perma-nência) e, consequentemente, com a recidiva. A pesquisa contou com 91 sujeitos, dos quais 67 (74,0%) abandonaram o tratamento, sendo 45 (67,0%) dos casos abandono precoce. As principais faixas etárias foram 25-35 anos (38,5%) e 36-50 anos (29,7%). Em relação a outros dados sociodemográficos, 41,7% foram solteiros, 72,5% com baixo nível de escolaridade, 36,3% estavam trabalhando antes da internação, 65,0% de classe média, 54,9% brancos, 44,0% evangélicos/protestantes e 41,7% católicos. A principal droga de abuso foi o crack (60,4%), seguida do álcool (33,0%). 41,8% relataram tempo de uso de 11 a 20 anos, 75,8% foram tabagistas, 30,8% usavam medicação psicoativa ao ingressar ao tratamento e 67,0% relataram haver outros dependentes de álcool e drogas na família de convivência. 52,7% tive-ram outras internações em Comunidade Terapêutica, 19,8% já estiveram na mesma Comuni-dade Terapêutica deste estudo e 38,5% já tinham sido presos. Em ... / Abstract: The present paper aims investigate the different factors that can be prognostics to time of permanence of alcohol and drugs dependents in treatment on a Therapeutic Community, as well as to dropout, considering that time of treatment lower than three months and dropout are prognostic factors to relapse. For this longitudinal study was conducted in a group of alcohol and drugs dependents in treatment on a Therapeutic Community, to evaluate the so-ciodemographic characteristics, severity of dependence and the presence of anxiety and de-pression at start of treatment. The treatment outcome was assessed using a continuous varia-ble (time of permanence - days) and a categorized (dropout - conclusion). The different fac-tors that can be associated to this two variables have been assessed, univariate and multivar-iate form, aiming better comprehension what collaborates with early dropout (less than 90 days of permanence) and, consequently, to recurrence. The survey had 91 subjects, of whom 67 (74.0%) dropped out of treatment, with 45 (67.0%) cases of early dropout. The main age ranges were 25-35 years old (38.5%) and 36-50 years old (29.7%). Regarding other socio-demographic data, 41.7% were single, 72.5% with low education level, 36.3% were working before admission, 65.0% middle class, 54.9% white, 44.0% evangelical/protestant and 41.7% catholic. The main drug of abuse was crack (60.4%), followed by alcohol (33.0%). 41.8% reported time of use between 11 to 20 years, 75.8% were smokers, 30.8% used psychoactive medication at entering in treatment and 67.0% reported alcohol and other drugs dependents in the family of cohabitation. 52.7% had other admissions in Therapeutic Community, 19.8% have been in the same Therapeutic Community of this study and 38.5% had been arrested. Regarding the presence of anxiety and depression at the beginning of treatment, low levels have been found, being the "probable" score on 19.0% for anxiety and 7.0% for ... / Mestre

Counselling centres are facilities that provide services especially to problematic drug users. To achieve the highest possible effectiveness it is necessary to include also social surroundings (parents, partners or school) of the problematic drug user into the overall treatment. The fundamental prerequisite of existence of these centres is their accessibility without booking in advance and without waiting times for everyone who needs to deal with his or her emergency situation immediately. That is why these centres are called mentally and socially barrier-free, so called low-threshold facilities. I have chosen the qualitative method to conduct the research. As a technique for data gathering I selected secondary data analysis and semi-structured interviews with drug users who visit counselling centres. For the research I used data from annual reports from counselling centres in Písek and České Budějovice. The results of my research could be useful for workers in helping professions, for workers dealing with the issue of illegal drug abuse, to improve the effectiveness of services in the counselling centres or as groundwork for further research or training.

Introdução: A literatura sugere que o medo da dependência de opióides é uma barreira para o alívio da dor, especialmente quando há suspeita de uso desses fármacos. No entanto, essa hipótese carece de testes empíricos. Objetivos: Comparar a conduta de profissionais de enfermagem na administração de analgésicos opióides e não opióides, quando há ou não suspeita de que o paciente seja usuário de drogas; identificar a prevalência de pacientes com suspeita de uso de drogas e conhecer as características dos pacientes que os profissionais de enfermagem consideram como sugestivas de uso de drogas. Método Estudo transversal com pacientes e profissionais de enfermagem (auxiliares e técnicos). Foram incluídos 507 pacientes com trauma ortopédico e prescrição de analgésico opióide, internados em quatro hospitais de Londrina, Paraná, entre fevereiro de 2011 a março de 2012, e 199 profissionais responsáveis pela administração de medicamentos a esses pacientes. Cada paciente recebeu a avaliação de três profissionais e considerou-se paciente suspeito aquele indicado por pelo menos um profissional. O desfechos principais foram a 1) quantidade administrada de analgésicos opióides e não opióides prescritos em regime se necessário e em horário fixo nas últimas 24 horas; 2) prevalência de pacientes suspeitos de uso de drogas; 3) condutas dos profissionais frente à solicitação do opióide; 4) Características dos pacientes que os profissionais consideram sugestivas de uso de drogas. Nas análises utilizaram-se os testes de Qui quadrado, Fisher e Mann-Whitney, e nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: A prevalência de pacientes suspeitos foi de 6,86%, maior em homens (p<0.036) e jovens (p<0,001). Os pacientes suspeitos receberam mais opióides se necessário (p=0,037) e até 30% da dose máxima possível, contra até 20% para os não suspeitos. A administração entre suspeitos e não suspeitos não diferiu quanto aos opióides prescritos em horário fixo, no entanto, deixou-se de administrar 10% da dose para ambos os grupos. Entre os profissionais entrevistados, 75,6% relataram que mantêm a analgesia com opióide, mesmo quando há suspeita de o paciente ser usuário de droga, mas 28,9% deles disseram tentar reduzir a dose nesses casos. As características dos pacientes mais frequentemente consideradas pelos profissionais como sugestivas de uso de drogas pertenciam à categoria consequências emocionais/físicas/sociais e sinais de abstinência (70,6%) e insistência pelo opióide (55,9%), mais do que a aparência pessoal (0,0%). Conclusão: A prevalência de suspeitos foi semelhante a estudos realizados em departamentos de emergência, sugerindo que os auxiliares e técnicos de enfermagem foram cuidadosos na estimativa de suspeição. Os resultados obtidos contrariam a literatura, pois indicaram que os suspeitos de serem usuários de droga receberam mais analgésicos opióides. Assumindo-se a premissa de que os profissionais identificaram corretamente os usuários de drogas, pode-se explicar o maior recebimento de opióide pelos suspeitos, pelas características comportamentais e emocionais: maior inquietude, insistência verbal e talvez menor alívio da dor, pois usuários de droga podem desenvolver tolerância. A administração de analgésicos, especialmente em esquema se necessário, é uma decisão importante da enfermagem que pode contribuir para o alívio da dor, daí a importância de entender as motivações que influenciam os profissionais nessa decisão. / Introduction: The literature suggests that the fear of getting addicted to opiods can be a barrier to adequate pain relief, especially when there is a suspicious of drug use. However, this hypothesis needs to be tested empirically. Objectives: Compare the conduct of nursing professionals in administering analgesics when there is the suspicion that the patient is a drug user; identify the prevalence of patients with the suspicious of drugs use and knowing the characteristics of patients that nursing professionals consider as indicators of drug use. Method: Transversal study with patients and nursing professionals (aides and technicians). The study included 507 patients with orthopedics trauma to whom opiod analgesics were prescribed. They were admitted to four hospitals in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, between February 2011 and 2012. Patients were seen by 199 professionals responsible for administering the medications. Each patient was evaluated by three professionals regarding drug use suspicion. The patient was classified as suspect when indicated by at least one of these professionals. The evaluation included 1) amount of opioid analgesics prescribed under the if necessary regime and at fixed times; 2) prevalence of patients being suspected of drug use and 3) professionals conduct when dealing with opioid prescriptions in the last 24 hours. The analysis used Chi Square, Fisher and Mann- Whitney tests at 5% of level of significance. Results: The prevalence of suspect patients was 6.86%, greater in men (p<0.036) and young people (p<0,001). When comparing the group of suspects with the group of non-suspects, the suspect patients received more opioids under the if needed regime (p=0.037) and up to 30% of the possible maximum dosage against 20% for the non suspects. There was no difference between suspects and non suspects regarding the administration of opioid analgesics prescribed as if necessary; however, 10% of the dosage was not administered to both groups. Among the interviewed nursing aides and technicians, 75,6% reported that they maintain analgesia with opioid even when there was a suspicion that the patient is a drug user; however, 28,9% said they tried to reduce the dosage in these cases. The patients characteristics most often considered by professionals as suggestive of drug use belonged to the emotional/physical/social consequences and withdrawal signs category (70,6%) and insistence by the opioid (55,9%), more than personal appearance (0,0%). Conclusion: The prevalence of suspects was similar to studies performed in emergency departments, suggesting that nursing aides and technicians were careful in estimating suspicion. The results contradict those mentioned in the literature, since they indicate that drug users suspects received more opioid analgesics. By accepting the assumption that nursing aides and technicians have identified illicit drug users correctly, the greater number of opioid administration by the suspects can be explained based on the behavioral and emotional characteristics of this group: greater restlessness, verbal insistence and perhaps less pain relief, since drug users may develop tolerance to certain drugs. Whether or not to administer analgesics, especially those with the if necessary regime, is an important decision for the nursing staff, since they can contribute to an adequate pain relief, thus the importance of understanding the motivations that lead professionals to take this decision.