RECEPTION AND MANAGEMENT OF DRUG-DEPENDENT PATIENTS IN PRIMARY CARE

Abstract

Introduction: this study emphasizes the practices of reception and management of patients with chemical dependency within the scope of Primary Health Care (PHC), with emphasis on the role of nurses in promoting comprehensive, humanized and continuous care. Method: this is a literature review, which adopted the PRISMA protocol as its methodology, to analyze the reception and management of drug-dependent patients in primary health care. The search was conducted through the Lilacs, Scielo, PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar databases, resulting in 15 complete articles in Portuguese that addressed the guiding question.. Results: 15 scientific articles were included, which showed that care for individuals with chemical dependency in Primary Health Care poses challenges to nursing professionals, which require technical training, sensitivity and ethical conduct. Discussion: the strategies employed by multidisciplinary teams in the reception process, the protocols used for patient monitoring, and the main challenges faced by health professionals were discussed. The analysis revealed that, despite advances in public policies and the structuring of the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS), significant obstacles remain, such as stigma, insufficient specific training, and weak integration between services. Conclusion: it is concluded that, currently, the reception and effective management of drug addicts in Primary Health Care remains insufficient, with isolated and poorly structured attempts predominating. The great challenge is to transform the discourse of comprehensive care into daily practice, strengthening the role of nurses and multidisciplinary teams as essential agents in promoting mental health and restoring dignity and citizenship for these individuals.