Ashlee Phillips

Amy West

HLTH 1050

31 March 2024

The Effects of Cocaine in Brazil

As human beings, we typically have an aversion to pain. Therefore, it is confounding

how often we willingly engage in behaviors that are detrimental to our well-being. An example

of this kind of behavior is the epidemic of drug abuse disorders. This public health issue not only

harms the consumers but entire communities. Why, then, do humans continue to do it? The

motivation of drug use can be diverse such as seeking relief and euphoria, or mere diversion.

Among many substances, crack cocaine produces some of the most menacing negative effects.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in countries like Brazil where the impact of crack cocaine

use is destructive. This study explores the consequences of cocaine use and how it physically,

emotionally, socially, and financially affects the Brazilian society, highlighting the urgent need

for comprehensive approaches to address and mitigate the devastating effects of substance abuse.

The effects of crack cocaine use are intense and can be devastating, especially in Brazil.

In the article “Female Crack Cocaine Users under Treatment at Therapeutic Communities in

Southern Brazil: Characteristics, Pattern, of Consumption, and Psychiatric Comorbidities” by

Adrian Raquel Binsfeld Hess and Rosa Maria Martins de Almeida, they performed an

observational study where they investigated the effects of crack cocaine on 46 female users who

were admitted to four different therapeutic communities in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre,

Brazil. In this article, they state, “Brazil is assumed to be the second greatest consumer market

for cocaine worldwide, second only to the United States” (Hess & Almeida 1). Crack cocaine is a
widely used drug that produces many intense, negative effects on the consumer, their families,

friends, and society. As explained by Hess and Almeida, “Crack is a powerful stimulant, which

activates the brain’s reward system and causes deleterious consequences to all areas of the user’s

life” (Hess & Almeida 2). The population of Brazil that uses crack is not left untouched by its

harmful repercussions.

The list of physical and emotional effects that Brazilians experience due to cocaine use is

extensive. A few of the physical effects from that list are weight loss, sleep problems, coughing,

heart palpitations, lip and hand burns, and more. The article “Sociodemographic Characteristics,

Patterns of Crack Use, Concomitant Substance Use Disorders, and Psychiatric Symptomatology

in Treatment-Seeking Crack-Dependent Individuals in Brazil” by Miguel, André Q. C., et al.,

contains a study performed on 65 crack-dependent individuals who were seeking treatment in

outpatient facilities in São Paulo, Brazil. Throughout the study, they observed things like their

history of crack use, treatment history, and psychiatric symptomatology. The authors claim that

“crack use is associated with a number of severe psychiatric comorbidities, such as alcohol

dependence, mood disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder), anxiety disorders, antisocial

personality disorder, and suicidal ideation (Narvaez et al. 2014a; Paim Kessler et al. 2012;

Zubaran et al. 2010)” (Miguel et al.1). Mental health disorders are already a difficult challenge to

deal with even without the other heavy effects of using drugs. These mental health disorders that

crack cocaine can be associated with are highly concerning negative effects of its use.

Suicide is a serious matter that is often linked to untreated mental health disorders, which

must not be overlooked. The mental health disorders that many cocaine users experience make

them more at risk for suicide attempts. The article “Prediction of Attempted Suicide in Men and

Women with Crack-Cocaine Use Disorder in Brazil” by Vinícius Serafini Roglio, et al, shares a
study of 247 men and 442 women who were hospitalized in Porto Alegre, Brazil for cocaine use

disorder. In this study they closely observed the association and likelihood of suicide among the

cocaine-using population. The article asserts that “rates of suicide for cocaine users are almost

four times as much as those who do not use it. Out of all crack cocaine users, 47% have a current

suicide risk in Brazil” (Roglio et al. 2). Nearly half of all cocaine users in this study are

vulnerable to the risks of suicide, a statistic that warrants grave concern. Although crack cocaine

is typically not the sole factor of why these people attempt or commit suicide, their poor mental

state can have a significant impact on their will to live.

Many individuals who live with a drug abuse disorder may not realize the impact it has

on those around them. The negative social repercussions of crack cocaine extend throughout the

lives of those afflicted, impacting every facet of their relationships, including family and friends.

Returning to the article by Hess and Almeida, while observing their study participants, they

noticed that “the majority of women were single (76.1%); 76.10% had at least one child. Among

those with children, 34.8% reported having a child after beginning to use crack, and 19.6%

reported at least one spontaneous abortion after starting using crack” (Hess and Almeida 3).

These statistics indicate that a significant majority of these women, influenced by cocaine use,

found themselves raising their children alone. The health of many of these children was

jeopardized because of their mother's choice to use cocaine before the birth of their child. Apart

from the risk of birth defects or other health complications, nearly 20% of these pregnancies

resulted in abortion due to associated health concerns. This lifestyle does not only affect the

consumer of crack cocaine but negatively affects everyone around them.

One of the most devastating aspects of crack cocaine use disorder is the financial effects.

Many users find themselves spending all their financial resources through behaviors like selling
or trading belongings to buy crack, not being able to pay bills, getting involved in illicit activities

to obtain money to buy the drug, and sometimes participating in undesired sexual relationships

or getting involved with drug trafficking activities (Hess & Almeida 4). The financial burden that

is put on these individuals can lead them to do things they would never normally do. This is a

vicious cycle of negative effects that many find themselves in.

This public health issue can be catastrophic for the economic progress of those affected

by it. Along with spending all their money, their habits often stop them from receiving an

education and maintaining a job. Many people may lose their homes and find themselves on the

street because of it. In the study of Hess and Almeida, they also discovered that from the 46

participating females, “almost half of the sample had low education, with 43.5% having

complete or incomplete elementary education. In addition, 80.4% of the participants were not

working prior to the current treatment” (Hess & Almeida 3). Without an education or the ability

to maintain a job, how can these people stay off the streets? They suffer from poverty and find

themselves seeking out drugs to cope with it. The financial burden is truly what affects them the

most and leads them to maintain this destructive lifestyle.

In conclusion, the population of Brazil struggling with cocaine use disorder endures

profound suffering across all aspects of life — physical, emotional, social, and financial. Despite

the destructive consequences, the draw of crack cocaine remains, highlighting the complex

connection between addiction and human behavior. As we confront the stark reality of this

public health crisis, it becomes evident that mere awareness of its consequences may not suffice

to deter individuals from its use. Thus, addressing the underlying factors driving substance abuse

and implementing thorough interventions are crucial steps toward mitigating the devastating

impact of crack cocaine use disorder and fostering healthier communities.

 Works Cited

Hess, Adriana Raquel Binsfeld, and Rosa Maria Martins de Almeida. “Female Crack Cocaine

Users under Treatment at Therapeutic Communities in Southern Brazil: Characteristics,

Pattern of Consumption, and Psychiatric Comorbidities.” Trends in Psychiatry &

Psychotherapy, vol. 41, no. 4, Oct. 2019, pp. 369–74. EBSCOhost, https://doi-

org.libprox1.slcc.edu/10.1590/2237-6089-2018-0089.

Miguel, André Q. C., et al. “Sociodemographic Characteristics, Patterns of Crack Use,

Concomitant Substance Use Disorders, and Psychiatric Symptomatology in Treatment-

Seeking Crack-Dependent Individuals in Brazil.” Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, vol. 50,

no. 4, Sept. 2018, pp. 367–72. EBSCOhost,

https://doi-org.libprox1.slcc.edu/10.1080/02791072.2018.1436729.

Roglio, Vinícius Serafini, et al. “Prediction of Attempted Suicide in Men and Women with

Crack-Cocaine Use Disorder in Brazil.” PLoS ONE, vol. 15, no. 5, May 2020, pp. 1–19.

EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.libprox1.slcc.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0232242.