The Federal Government launched a set of actions for combating crack cocaine yesterday (December 7), with investment expected to reach R$ 4 billion by 2014. The actions are structured around three themes - care, prevention and authority - and will be developed in an integrated manner together with States and Municipalities.

Within the area of care, initiatives are planned to expand the availability of health care for drug users and for training professionals. A treatment network will be created, named Count on Us, structured to meet the needs of patients in different situations, to support addicts in overcoming their addiction and to assist in their reintegration into society.

A further action in the area of care will be the creation of specialized hospital wards within the Unified Public Health System (SUS), which will receive investment of R$ 670.6 million to create 2,462 beds dedicated to drug users.

These beds will be used for consultations and short stay admissions during abstinence crises, or in cases of severe intoxication. According to the Health Minister, Alexandre Padilha, in order to stimulate the deployment of these bed spaces, the daily rate for hospitalization that is re-passed by the Federal Government to States and Municipalities may increase four-fold, from R$ 57 up to R$ 200.

"It is very good to have a plan that has care as a high priority. We have to distinguish between distinct necessities. What needs repression is the drug trafficker and drug smuggling. The drug user needs open access to assistance", said Padilha.

Prevention will focus on schools, communities and communication with the population at large. 210,000 educators and 3,300 military police will be trained to operate in drug use prevention in 42,000 public schools. Community leaders should also receive training by 2014.

There will also be specific campaigns to inform, guide and deter the population with regard to the use of crack cocaine and other drugs.

With regard to Authority, police actions will focus on two areas: borders and centers of drug consumption. Targets include high profile policing at drug use locations in cities and revitalization of areas that are known points of drug use.

Actions by Authorities also contemplate integrated intelligence collaboration between State, Federal and Highway Police and investigation to identify and arrest traffickers and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.

"We cannot ignore this reality. We must confront it", said Justice Minister, José Eduardo Cardozo. "The teams will be trained to guide users to seek the health care services available to them. Actions will only begin when the health services have the necessary conditions to attend people", he added.

07 December 2011