FROM STIGMA TO CARE: A NARRATIVE REVIEW ON ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS IN PUBLIC POLICIES AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze social perceptions related to public policies on alcohol and other drugs in Brazil, with an emphasis on the effects of stigma on the formulation and implementation of mental health care. This is a qualitative study, developed through a narrative literature review, which allowed for a broad and interpretative approach to the topic. A total of 26 works were analyzed, including scientific articles, books, legal documents, institutional reports, and technical materials, published between 2003 and 2022. The selection of sources did not follow strict exclusion criteria, as the objective was to capture different perspectives on the subject. The results indicate the coexistence of care proposals guided by the principles of psychiatric reform and human rights with practices still influenced by moralistic, hygienist, and exclusionary conceptions. It is evident that the social stigma associated with substance use directly affects the forms of care and institutional responses provided. It is concluded that addressing stigma and consolidating intersectoral, inclusive public policies that are sensitive to the complexity of the phenomenon are central aspects for strengthening mental health practices truly committed to psychosocial care.