Drugs and violence: social perception in a community

Abstract

This cross-sectional, descriptive study aimed at investigating social perception on street drugs and violence in a community in northwestern Paraná. A structured questionnaire was applied to 358 inhabitants, of whom 98.6% reported to perceive the presence of drugs in high intensity (82.4%), a situation considered as “alarming” for 56.1% and a cause of suffering for 61.5%. Seventy-eight interviewees (22.1%) reported that the presence of drugs caused changes in family life (22.1%), social life (29.5%), and in family behavior (24.9%). A total of 72.6% reported restrictions in their activities due to fear of violence. The main reason for drug use and distribution was related to the absence of policing (31.4%). Most people (90.2%) perceived the presence of violence; 93.8% related this presence to drug abuse. The presence of violence was mostly related to drug abuse, as a result of the absence of policing and drug traffic fighting in the community.