Literature review on the conceptions of health professionals on the use of drugs in Brazil: biomedical model, naturalizations and moralism

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the conceptions of Brazilian health professionals on drug use/abuse. It is an academic literature review in the following databases: MEDLINE, LILACS, IBECS and Scielo. The final sample consisted of 22 articles, with the results pointing to a predominance of moral and naturalized conceptions about drug use, guided by biomedical model rather than psychosocial, socio-cultural or even biopsychosocial perspectives. In the case of a multi-faceted and complex problem, answers' attempts should go in the direction of breadth and comprehensiveness, thinking drug use beyond a mere disease, or necessarily a bad thing, but understanding the physical, psychological and social aspects that pervade it. For the reversal of this scenario, it is necessary training/capacity building in the area, but reflecting the premises and methodologies that underlie these training processes.

Key words:
substance-related disorders; alcohol-related disorders; health personnel; health manpower; review