Harm Reduction is a public health strategy that seeks to control possible adverse consequences of the consumption of psychoactive substances – chemical substances that act on the central nervous system. The topic is addressed in the video released by the extension project De Janeiro a Janeiro, promoted by the Applied Psychology Service (Sepa), linked to the Center for Human Sciences, Letters and Arts (CCHLA). The material will be made available this Wednesday, 19th, on the January Branco profile at UFRN on Instagram.
The subject will be addressed by clinical psychologist Bruno Carvalho Pereira, who developed the dissertation Harm reduction in specialized care for alcohol and other drugs in the Master's Degree in Psychology at UFRN. In the research he followed two institutions providing specialized care for users of alcohol and other drugs: the Psychosocial Care Center (Caps) Álcool e Drogas 3 and the Fazenda da Esperança Dom Bosco Therapeutic Community.
For him, this public policy has not been used as an empowering tool to promote changes in care for users of psychoactive substances. “Professionals from both institutions see harm reduction as something simpler and cheaper, which is not the best thing to do, but users from both institutions are more open to perspectives”, he points out.
Within Caps, Bruno highlights, users realize how harm reduction helps them to remain more functional in their lives, managing to improve situations such as work and have a healthier life.
The De Janeiro a Janeiro project releases, every month, videos that contribute to improving quality of life and promote mental health. The themes involve various subjects, such as: Mental health and graduation; Mental health and teleworking; Meditation and anxiety; Group psychotherapy for depression; Neuropsychology and mental health; Coping with violence and mental health; Occupational health and psychosocial care networks.
In addition to CCHLA, through the Department of Psychology and Sepa, the Biosciences Center (CB), through the Department of Physiology and Behavior, the Health Sciences Center (CCS), through the Department of Toco-gynecology, and the Communications Superintendence (Comunica) participate in the project.
Via Agecom