Abstract
The homeless crack users are neglected in Brazil. The goal of this study was to approach this population in order to understand their access/use of health services to the treatment of drug addiction. This is a qualitative research consisting of 26 individual interviews and one focal group with five crack users living in the streets of a city of Baixada Santista/SP. The analysis of this study revealed that the treatment offered by therapeutic communities is the best known, but it is not effective for this population. Regarding the treatment offered by the public health system, there were criticism, little information and limited access, and a lack of knowledge about harm reduction strategies. The crack users reported feelings of stigma, discrimination and prejudice, feelings which were experienced also in their relation with health professionals, being these important factors that hinder the access of this population to the care and health system.
Keywords:
Crack cocaine; Therapeutics; Substance-Related disorders; Homeless