Crenças e atitudes de educadores da rede pública de um município mineiro sobre o uso de substâncias psicoativas

Abstract

Introduction: The lack of preparation of educators to work with students using Psychoactive Substances is a fragility that compromises the approach in the school environment. Therefore, it is necessary that these professionals recognize the importance of knowledge and reflect their beliefs and attitudes about this subject. Objective: To know the beliefs and attitudes of educators of nine municipal schools in Belo Horizonte about the use of Psychoactive Substances. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory study carried out with 38 educators from the municipal education network of Belo Horizonte/MG. The instruments used were a questionnaire to characterize sociodemographic data, the Social Tolerance Scale and the Questionnaire on Perception of Health Problems Questionnaire. Results: There was a predominance of negative and stigmatizing beliefs and attribution of the use of Psychoactive Substances to the moralizing model. Conclusion: Interventions focused on educators' awareness about the use and abuse of SPAs prior to the elaboration of coping programs for schoolchildren are necessary to avoid conflicting situations that stigmatize the user.