Inovação em políticas públicas sobre drogas: uma análise argumentativa sobre o Projeto Corra pro Abraço

Abstract

The abuse / harmful use of drugs phenomenon has become a social problem especially in developing countries. Several studies have shown that the growing repressive actions against drug production and drug users criminalization are ineffective. There are few harm reduction strategies with preventive actions, public health promotion and guarantee of human rights. The objective of this research is to analyze the reduction of physical and social harm strategies adopted by the Projeto Corra pro Abraço (Run to Embrace Project), in order to identify and categorize the innovation processes in public policies developed by this current instrument of public policy, under the National Policy on Drugs. This is a qualitative case study using documental analysis, conducting 07 semi-structured interviews with professionals working in the project, focus group with users participating in the project, as well the researcher participative observation. The theoretical and methodological basis used is the theory of public policy instrumentation (Lascoumes, L and Welsh, 2012) and argumentative analysis of public policies (Fisher, 2007)., therefore, the analysis is focused on ideas, processes and arguments. The data analysis method used here is the content analysis (Bardin, 1977), identifying the issues and arguments that emerged from the explicit discourses (planned official documents, for instance) and implicit speeches (experienced). Four dimensions of analysis were identified: a) knowledge in public policies, highlighting the making and learning in policy implementation; b) the external and internal borders, describing the possibilities and challenges to guarantee the human rights of people who use drugs; c) the actors and their roles, including the actors involved in the implementation of the policy and its impact on the practice of action; d) the territory as a management tool, bringing the conceptual discussion of territory and the impact of it in the actions of the project. Corra Pro Abraço has achieved its objectives to a large extent. Harm reduction strategies utilized by the instrument of public policy here in study have been characterized as socially innovative in the sphere of public policy on drugs.