The solidarity economy in the social inclusion of users of alcohol and other drugs: reflections from the analysis of experiments in Minas Gerais and São Paulo

Abstract

This article is an attempt to analyze the actions of solidarity economy as a mean of social inclusion of
users/dependents of alcohol and other drugs. For this purpose, two experiences included in the Brazilian Network of
Mental Health and Solidarity Economy, which is organized by the Ministry of Labor and Employment, were studied.
This discussion is part of a larger project, supported by CNPq, whose purpose is to analyze the relation between labor
and use/dependency of alcohol/drugs, rescuing alternative forms of organization that facilitate the social inclusion of
that particular audience. In the theoretical foundation, firstly, an overview on what is the part alcohol/drugs in the
whole mental health is presented, especially regarding its specificities and its relationship to work. Accordingly, an
exploratory investigation, that took place in Minas Gerais and in São Paulo, verifying the existence of significant
gaps in relation to these actions, was conducted. The conclusions highlighted the difficulties that arise, particularly
with regard to the dependents of psychoactive drugs, such as the question of money, the secondary gains, the lack of
interest in activities, among others. In this sense, the article reinforces the complexity of this issue, which necessarily
implies the adoption of integral actions which are part of a broader policy of attention to these individuals.