Uso não problemático de drogas ilícitas: um estudo sobre trajetórias de vida e estratégias para a gestão do consumo

Abstract

The present work is the result of research that deals with the topic of illicit drug use, more specifically its non-problematic use, as well as its relationship with the social stigmas arising from it. Although the literature on the subject is in rapid development in countries such as Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands, Brazil still lacks studies on this theme. Therefore, the general objective of the research is to understand the “trajectories” (DUBAR, 1998) and/or “careers” (KOKOREFF, 2005) of illicit drug users, such as marijuana (Cannabis Sativa Lineu), that fit the profile of users considered “non-problematic” (CRUZ, 2011), in order to identify which aspects of their life stories (BECKER, 1994; PONTES FRAGA, 2010) are decisive for this. The research also seeks to contribute to the theoretical discussion on the factors associated with the processes of criminalization and control of the consumption of these substances, of labeling and stigmatization (BECKER, 2008; GOFFMAN, 2013) of their users as deviants, taking as analytical categories the concepts of “biopolitics”, “control of bodies” and “differential management of illegalisms” by Foucault (1999; 2008). In this sense, the methodological path chosen had two stages: 1) the bibliographic review of the literature on the topic and 2) the application of the non-probabilistic sampling technique, known as “snowball” or “snowball sampling” (BEAUD, 2009), to identify the research subjects, with subsequent semi-structured interviews (LAVILLE; DIONNE, 1999) and in depth (POUPART, 2010) to trace their biographical trajectories (DUBAR, 1998), using the content analysis technique discourse (BARDIN, 2004; SABOURIN, 2009). The analysis of the interviews confirmed our hypothesis that the users of illicit drugs, mainly Cannabis, who fall into the category of “nonproblem users” are those who live in a specific sociocultural and economic context that allow them to adapt or managing their own behavior, in order to avoid damage to health and their personal and professional relationships, as well as circumvent formal and informal social control processes that can impose discriminatory stigmas and labels.