BACKGROUND: The aid provided for psychoactive substances (PS) dependents corroborates the financial impact of this problem which has been caused primarily by hospitalization. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to present the costs sustained by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) for hospitalizations related to PS users between the years 2000-2002 in the city of Campinas, São Paulo. METHODS: Survey of secondary data on HIAs (Hospital Internment Authorizations) during the aforementioned period, including information that relates to both public and private hospitals that maintain service agreements with SUS, as well as data available in Datasus, and from the City Health Department. RESULTS: The results obtained attest that costs have increased at a rate of 36%, considering what has been spent on HIAs for the treatment of alcoholism alone: 79% (2000), 80% (2001), and 77% (2002). Psychiatric hospitals were the primary parties responsible for the hospitalization of PS dependents in Campinas, making up 77% in 2000, 79% in 2001, and 72% in 2002 of all of the PS users HIAs. CONCLUSIONS: The challenge for Campinas is to promote assistance to PS users which favor out-patient health services rather than hospitals. Such an approach helps not only to optimize programs which have already been implemented, but also helps deconstruct society’s misconception that a hospital is the only legitimate place for the solution to health issues.
Health costs; SUS (BR); disorders resulting from psychoactive substance usage; hospitalization; mental health
