Adolescents, Street, Drugs and Psychoactive Substances: A Study on Risk and Protection

Abstract

The article describes the consumption of psychoactive substances (PSs) by street-involved children and adolescents (SCA) in three Brazilian state capitals and examines adverse life events due to drug involvement. The longitudinal study included 108 SCA (9-18 years old, both sexes), grouped according to the main reason for going to the street: drugs, caregivers, escape, work and freedom. It also discusses the impact of drugs, trafficking and the place that this theme has occupied in public policies, social interventions and the life trajectory of these participants, through a case study. It is intended that these data can support the operation of interventions and the formulation of public policies that guarantee integral protection.

From Theory to Methodology: Using Ecological Engagement to Study Development in Context

“…These interviews also result in powerful case studies that can illuminate quantitative findings (e.g., Santana, Raffaelli, Vezedek, & Koller, 2019). Quantitative assessments of person characteristics allow researchers to identify factors that may affect individuals’ interactions with their contexts, and thus affect proximal processes.…”

“…Distal contexts include child protective services, legal systems, and public policies that affect street‐involved youth. An analysis of the role drugs play in adolescents’ street involvement triangulated research data collected from street‐involved youth with information from local service providers and reports produced by governmental and nongovernmental agencies (Santana et al, 2019). The researchers identified a lack of effective treatment programs, and an emphasis by legislators and law enforcement on punitive (instead of therapeutic) responses to drug use by youth, as factors contributing to initial and continued street involvement.…”

“Nessa rua, nessa rua falta proteção”: uma revisão de escopo sobre crianças e adolescentes, em situação de rua no Brasil

“…Utilizadas análises quantitativas Análise do padrão de consumo de drogas e estudo de caso, a partir da análise da categorização do principal motivo de ida para a rua. Instrumentos: ESV, Checklist de Eventos Adversos; Entrevista de Status Corrente e Uso de SPA'S, adaptada, aplicados nos três momentos 75…”