Exclusions And Rejections In The Field Of Addictions: A Qualitative Study On The Implementation Of The Argentine Law On Mental Health And Addictions

Objective: To study the state of application of the Argentinian Law 26.657 regarding people with problematic drug use. Methodology: descriptive exploratory qualitative study carried out between October 2018 and October 2019. Semi-directed interviews with health professionals of general hospitals and first level care providers in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires were conducted. Results: People with problematic drug use are not usually considered as mental health patients presenting difficulties for accessibility to treatment. Conclusion: There is an absence of public policies that accompany the implementation of this law including material and human resources. A paradigm shift is needed in those who manage institutions, assist people with problematic drug use and in the users of the health system.