Cenas de uso de crack no município do Rio de Janeiro: perfil em 2011/2012

The use and misuse of crack cocaine has been defined by media as an epidemic in Brazil, affecting both large metropolitan areas, where it had originally gained momentum, and, more recently, in middle and small cities. The Brazilian peer-reviewed literature on such theme has increased in recent years, but many gaps should be further assessed with the necessary detail. This dissertation is part of a larger study called “Profile of crack cocaine users in 26 capitals, federal district, 9 main metropolitan areas and Brazil”, and aims to advance an analytic typology of crack (and crack-like substances; i.e. coca paste, “merla” and “oxi”) consuming patterns. Such characteristics and patterns were assessed in Rio de Janeiro drug scenes, in 2011/12. Specific aims comprise: a) to discuss some methods to assess hard-to-reach, hidden populations, such as people who misuse crack and other illicit substances; b) to advance a typology to guide the description and comparative analysis of crack/cracklike substances scenes, as defined by the highest or lowest concentration of drug users; c) to double-check the reliability of such typology in the comparative analysis of drug scenes with different characteristics, such as different sizes, attended by users with different profiles and different drug consuming habits, as well as different geographic locations. The dissertation profits from the integrated application of ethnography, participant observation, mapping, as well as Time Location Sampling (TLS), targeting crack (crack-like substances) scenes. Potential scenes were probed in terms of settings, time, and other characteristics, defining sampling frames. Information was entered into a comprehensive database, analyzed by both quantitative and qualitative methods.