Socio-Sanitary Answers to the Consumption of Cocaine Paste: Limits and Potentials of Rehabilitation Centers

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The growing number of polytreatments received by young people in the south of the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (MABA) to stop the consumption of cocaine paste (CP), or paco, reveals the need to study the rehabilitation center functioning taking into account the descriptions of the young patients. OBJECTIVES: To analyze limits and potentials of rehabilitation centers for paco addicts from the perspective of young people. To analyze addiction policies and to determine the accessibility to treatment facilities. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted between mid-2012 and early 2013 in the southern MABA zone. Data were analyzed with Atlas. ti 7.0. The study included young people attending different civil society organizations, such as day centers, therapeutic communities or facilities for the recovery and rehabilitation of addicted people. RESULTS: CP consumption starts at 8-15 years of age. The young people who completed the treatment did not blame their families, but the context. CP users attend medical services only in case of emergency and feel there is no place for them. Access to rehabilitation centers is guaranteed, but it is difficult to stay there due to certain dynamics leading to treatment dropout. CONCLUSIONS: There are barriers to access hospital care and to tay in rehabilitation centers. Law 26657 establishes rights and guarantees which are not respected. It is necessary to perform detailed checks and promote community spaces considering the context of young people.