Os benzodiazepínicos na ordem dos discursos: de objeto da ciência a objeto gadget do capitalismo

Abstract

Resumo Este estudo objetiva analisar o fenômeno do abuso de benzodiazepínicos, considerando o modo como essa substância comparece nos discursos constituídos na abordagem do mal-estar na contemporaneidade. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, de natureza qualitativa; foram ouvidos 18 médicos e enfermeiros atuantes na rede de saúde de Fortaleza, além de nove mulheres usuárias dos serviços. A população entre usuários limitou-se ao sexo feminino, devido ao fato de a literatura apontar prevalência do abuso de benzodiazepínicos nesse público. No exame dos dados, usou-se a análise do discurso de corrente francesa, a qual permitiu entrever como o medicamento comparece no laço social, apresentando diferentes significações, a depender do lugar ocupado nos discursos. Nos resultados encontrados destaca-se que o benzodiazepínico entra em uma espécie de curto-circuito no qual o tráfico de drogas comparece tanto na porta de entrada (como argumento para o consumo da substância em decorrência da violência cotidiana experimentada por essas mulheres) como na outra ponta (como substância desviada dos serviços de saúde e comercializada nos pontos de venda de drogas). Essa medicação constitui-se, assim, num gadget - objeto de consumo revestido pelo brilho de supostamente recobrir a falta. Diante desse cenário, urge pensar políticas públicas que possam ir além do modelo medicalizante.

Psychological Suffering, Medicalization and Women: Contributions in the Field of Public Health

“…What is heard in services on a daily basis is that health workers are generally not satisfied with working conditions and resent the demands of users, who often want only the renewal of the prescription and nothing more. In a study on benzodiazepines in another northeastern city, the authors also found this difficulty among health professionals and users (Silveira, Almeida & Carrilho, 2019).…”

“…What is implicit in this relationship is that ruling relations can happen in two moments: when the professional, supposedly the one who has the knowledge, has the power to prescribe a "blue recipe" (popular term for psychotropic recipe), and when the nonspecialist user, but with the power to make a scandal in the service when he/she cannot get the medicine, requires this medication or seeks another professional to satisfy it. Parallel to this "demand" of users for medicines, most health workers does not know enough about psychological distress, and do not feel competent enough in this area to provide other care practices (Silveira, Almeida, & Carrilho, 2019). Thus, Bezerra, Morais, Paula, Silva and Jorge (2016) state that the exacerbated consumption of medicines is related to the hegemonic context and to the marketing social production of health, involving different actors, including: doctors, patients, pharmaceutical industry and health regulatory agencies.…”

“…Thus, there is an underdiagnosis and abuse of benzodiazepines and unnecessary examinations and referrals commonly performed by health professionals (Silveira, Almeida, & Carrilho, 2019;Sousa, Maciel, & Medeiros, 2018). This practice is considered as medicalization of suffering, that is, any emotional, social or cultural aspect of daily life is now understood as a health problem and must be solved with medical technology.…”

Psychological suffering, medicalization and women: a perspective of Institutional Ethnography

“…Parallel to this "demand" of users for medicines, most health workers know little about psychological distress, and do not feel competent enough in this area to provide other care practices (Silveira, Almeida & Carrilho, 2019;Azevedo, 2010). Thus, Bezerra et al (2016) state that the exacerbated consumption of medicines is related to the hegemonic and marketing social production of health, involving different actors, including: doctors, patients, pharmaceutical industry and health regulatory agencies.…”

“…When seeking health services, many users have nonspecific somatic complaints, which can lead to difficulties in the correct management of these manifestations of suffering. Thus, there is an underdiagnosis and abuse of benzodiazepines and unnecessary examinations and referrals, commonly performed by health professionals (Silveira, Almeida & Carrilho, 2019;Souza et al, 2017).…”