Drug users and their families can now ask for help via the internet, in Minas Gerais, quickly and without complications. Teams of psychologists and social workers will be on hand to provide specialized assistance and guidance via WhatsApp, starting this Thursday (2/5).
In this new service, made available by the Government of Minas Gerais, through the State Department of Justice and Public Security (Sejusp), the user or their family is welcomed and has a specialized ear to help in cases of tension or doubt.
Furthermore, from this first contact, in which a psychosocial assessment is also carried out, professionals can suggest and refer the user to prevention, attention and care networks.
In other words, via the messaging application, the user can be referred for treatment in the health network, social assistance network, therapeutic communities or even to mutual help groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), for example. The service is available from 8am to 6pm.
Service via WhatsApp has been tested since January this year and has already welcomed and/or referred 120 drug users and family members.
Among them Eduardo*, 47 years old. “I found it easier to ask for help without being face to face with someone. I think the internet gives us more courage to admit mistakes and makes it easier to cry for help,” he says.
Expansion
The expansion of the support service for users and their families, now via WhatsApp, is an expansion of the face-to-face and telephone services already provided by the State Reference Center for Alcohol and other Drugs (Cread), of the Subsecretariat for Drug Policies at Sejusp.
If the user prefers telephone support, the contact number is the same as WhatsApp: (31) 3273-6204.
“Miners gain easy and quick access to information, guidance and psychosocial assistance related to problems arising from the use of alcohol and other drugs with this new service via WhatsApp”, highlighted the Undersecretary of Drug Policies of Minas Gerais, Cláudia Leite.
It is worth remembering that, since the beginning of the year, the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) has been a partner of the State in qualifying drug user care.
Now, researchers and students from the UFMG Faculty of Medicine also work in Cread actions. Including support for family members and users via WhatsApp, launched this Thursday.
*Fictitious name to protect the identity of the Cread client
Tags: Drug addicts family members specialized WhatsApp Minas
