Crack users: developing strategies to face the risks of the consumption

Abstract

Objective: to know the developed strategies by crack users to deal with arising risks of drug consumption. Method: qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study. Data collection occurred in 2011, in a downtown city of Rio Grande do Sul, with five users of crack who made use of the drug for at least one year. Data was recollected through semi structured interview with the aid of a recorder. Results: the main risks pointed to crack users are psychological and physical. To reduce the risks, they mentioned the individual use, keep the self-care, condom use, marijuana after crack use, the control of quantity of drug used and pipe care. Conclusion: the most part of users knows the risks that come with the drug consumption, but not everyone adopts strategies of harm reduction.