NURSES IN ALCOHOL AND DRUG COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: TRAINING AND QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD

This study aimed to identify the training in chemical dependency and the sources of knowledge used by nurses who work in Psycho-Social Community Alcohol and Drug Centers in Brazil. The subjects were 16 nurses who worked in these centers in the city of Sao Paulo between September and December of 2007. Data was collected through self-recorded registries and then submitted to thematic content analysis. The results showed that 68.8% of respondents did not have specific training in alcohol and other drugs, while 93.8% received no preparation in this area from their undergraduate nursing degree program. The participants identified relevant literature and periodicals, information online, and living interaction with other team members as sources of knowledge. This study concludes there is a lack of specific training in the field of psychoactive substances in formal nursing education; as a result, nurses resort to other - not always reliable - sources in their pursuit of nursing knowledge.