Abstract

ARAUJO, Ludgleydson Fernandes de; GONTIES, Bernard  and  NUNES JUNIOR, Jonsos. Social representations of cocaine: a comparative study among undergraduate students from Health Science and Law areas. Estud. psicol. (Campinas) [online]. 2007, vol.24, n.3, pp. 315-323. ISSN 0103-166X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-166X2007000300003.

This study broached social representations among undergraduate students from Health Science and Law of Universidade Federal da Paraíba. A hundred students from both areas took part in it. They were the majority female (55%), whose age average was about 27. Semi-structured interview was used, applied individually and recorded, with participants' allowance Data categorizing was made through Bardin Thematic Subject Analysis. According to this study, the representations are anchored on identification and professional belongings of these academic students. When researched areas were compared, Law students presented cocaine social representations related to the legal and social ambit, while the students from Health Science area focused the treatment and organic consequences. Guidelines must be developed in order to provide strategies support to these future professionals in their intervention practices ,. It proposes implementation of health policies contemplating prevention of the abusive use of licit and illicit drugs.

Keywords : cocaine; social representations; college students.