Uso de medicamentos ansiolíticos em bombeiros militares de Belo Horizonte

Abstract

Anxiolytics are among the most consumed psychotropic drugs in the world, being an option in the treatment of psychic symptoms. However, although the use is controlled, that is, even if the drug therapy occurs in the presence of psychic symptoms indicative of use and in the period of professional follow-up, there are risks, such as dependence, intoxication and cognitive alterations. Uncontrolled use among workers aggravates such problems. Firefighters work in contexts of high demands, in which the effectiveness of care depends on immediate responses and integrated actions. It is possible that in the face of stressful situations, firefighters use the use of anxiolytics as a strategy to compensate for the distressing effects. The objective was to identify the prevalence of anxiolytic drugs use and to know the factors associated with consumption in military firefighters. It is a cross-sectional survey census based that investigated 711 male firefighters operating in the Minas Gerais Fire Brigade, located in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The data were obtained through a self-reported. Statistical analyzes occurred in four stages: descriptive, univariate, intermediate and final multivariate. The multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate associations between sociodemographic characteristics, living, working and health conditions and anxiolytic consumption in a controlled or uncontrolled manner. Prevalence of anxiolytic drugs use was 9.9%. For 7.5% of firefighters the consumption occurred without indication and/ or specialized therapeutic control. Controlled use was associated with symptoms compatible with common mental disorder (CMD). Uncontrolled use was associated with length of service, smoking and symptomatology compatible with CMD. Likely, characteristics of the military career, such as job stability and social recognition, explain the absence of associations between working conditions and uncontrolled use of anxiolytics. The high prevalence of consumption is an alert for the need for integrated actions between occupational health and mental health programs. The early screening of psychic symptoms, besides indicating work situations at risk for illness, can subsidize the development of health promotion measures. The results stimulate the reflection on the mental health services offered to the military firefighters, mainly regarding actions that can intervene in environmental and organizational factors related to the outbreak of symptoms.