A Política de Redução de Danos no município de Pelotas, RS : o Programa “Crack, é possível vencer”.

Abstract

The main objective of this work was guided by the analysis of the conformity of the Política de Redução de Danos (Harm Reduction Policy) and its implementation in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, through the program Crack: é Possível Vencer (Crack; you can win). To achieve this aim, it identified the training, design, and knowledge’s policy makers and the street bureaucrats, responsible for implementing harm reduction policy in Pelotas/RS, and the analyzing of decision-making spaces available to stakeholders involved in this policy. At the same time, was analyzed the resource (time, material and human’s resources) to put these actions into the practice in the Centro de Redução de Danos (Harm Reduction Center) and Centro de Atenção psicossocial – álcool e outras drógas (Psychosocial-alcohol and the other drugs Attention Center) of Pelotas, Brazil. The make the qualitative analysis, the policy was adopted cycle model’s Howlett et al. (2013). The approach to "Crack Can Be Win Program" in Pelotas allowed to discuss the ambiguity in public policy treatment to drug users, once its formulation is planned measures that characterize the strategy of Harm Reduction and characterizing prohibitionist and madhouse practices inherited from previous models of public policies. Therefore, the stage of implementation of this program is seen crucial to define which desing is featuring the public policy treatment to drug users. The results show the policy-makers local and street bureaucrats adhesion of principles and values instilled in harm reduction policy, which allows them to identify the contradiction of madhouse and hospitalization option. It can be said that training is the great differential of the professionals engaged in policy implementation because it allows the clarity of the objectives and compliance with its principles. The decision’s spaces that allow the autonomy of these decision-makers local, too is another factor that stands out as a strength view because it allows the redesign of public policy. In addition, there is a commitment with implementation of the "Crack Can Be Win Program" in the city due to the lack of institutional capacity of the implementing agents. Finally, draws attention to the responsibility that the power of discretion of street bureaucrats have on the success or failure of public policy of harm reduction.