Sistema de referência e de contrarreferência na rede de atenção aos usuários de drogas: contribuições da análise de redes sociais Referral and counter-referral system in the care network for drug users: contributions from social network analysis

Abstract This paper analyzed the reference and counter-referral system of a care network for drug users, from Social Network Analysis (SNA). It is a cross-sectional survey conducted in the city of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, with professionals from the drug users’ treatment services. Data was collected through a questionnaire that measured referral and counter-referral relations of drug users between network services. Data from SNA was analyzed using the Gephi software, extracting the following metrics: Degree Centrality and Intermediation Centrality. Results indicated a higher prevalence of referencing rather than counter-referral, with a centralization in specialized, medium and high complexity, and emergency services. It is expected to demonstrate the potential of SNA in the understanding of organizational networks and influence new research that aims to comprehend different care realities for drug users in national and international context. Keywords: social networking; health care (public health); delivery of health care; referral and consultation; substance-related disorders.