TY - JOUR
T1 - Profile of Help-seeking Crack Cocaine Users in Brazil
T2 - A Comparison of 2 Cross-sectional Studies from 1997 and 2013
AU - Perrenoud, Luciane O.
AU - Trevizol, Alisson P.
AU - Schmidt De Oliveira, Ana C.
AU - Williams, Anna V.
AU - Cordeiro, Quirino
AU - Duailibi, Sérgio M.
AU - Laranjeira, Ronaldo
AU - Ribeiro, Marcelo
PY - 2019/12
Y1 - 2019/12
N2 - Objective:The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of treatment-seeking crack cocaine users in Brazil in 1996/1997 and 2012/2013.Methods:We analyzed data from 2 cross-sectional studies conducted 16 years apart. The first study (performed 1996-1997) included 133 crack users. The second study (performed 2012-2013) included 577 crack users. An interview based on the Intake Questionnaire and the Maudsley Addiction Profile was performed to examine sociodemographic characteristics and patterns of drug use. In both surveys, criminal and treatment history were collected.Results:The mean age of users increased from 27.3 years (SD=7.9) in 1997 to 30.8 years in 2013 (SD=7.7). The number of individuals with a high school diploma was >3 times higher in 2013, (11.7% vs. 38.9%). The mean time elapsed since first use was 3.9 years (SD=2.8) in 1997 versus 9.3 years (SD=5.8) in 2013. Other differences included higher unemployment and incarceration rates in the 1997 study.Conclusions:A change was detected in the profile of treatment-seeking crack cocaine users over the past 2 decades. Current patients appear to be older and use the drug more chronically, in addition to having a higher level of schooling and lower unemployment rates when compared with 1997 users.
AB - Objective:The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of treatment-seeking crack cocaine users in Brazil in 1996/1997 and 2012/2013.Methods:We analyzed data from 2 cross-sectional studies conducted 16 years apart. The first study (performed 1996-1997) included 133 crack users. The second study (performed 2012-2013) included 577 crack users. An interview based on the Intake Questionnaire and the Maudsley Addiction Profile was performed to examine sociodemographic characteristics and patterns of drug use. In both surveys, criminal and treatment history were collected.Results:The mean age of users increased from 27.3 years (SD=7.9) in 1997 to 30.8 years in 2013 (SD=7.7). The number of individuals with a high school diploma was >3 times higher in 2013, (11.7% vs. 38.9%). The mean time elapsed since first use was 3.9 years (SD=2.8) in 1997 versus 9.3 years (SD=5.8) in 2013. Other differences included higher unemployment and incarceration rates in the 1997 study.Conclusions:A change was detected in the profile of treatment-seeking crack cocaine users over the past 2 decades. Current patients appear to be older and use the drug more chronically, in addition to having a higher level of schooling and lower unemployment rates when compared with 1997 users.
KW - Brazil
KW - crack cocaine
KW - population characteristics
KW - treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064350623&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/ADT.0000000000000173
DO - 10.1097/ADT.0000000000000173
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85064350623
SN - 1531-5754
VL - 18
SP - 238
EP - 245
JO - Addictive Disorders and their Treatment
JF - Addictive Disorders and their Treatment
IS - 4
ER -
