Rio wants to implement compulsory hospitalization of drug addicts in the first half of 2024

Rio de Janeiro’s municipal health secretary, Daniel Soranz (PSD), accepted Mayor Eduardo Paes’ (PSD) request and said that the compulsory hospitalization program for drug users living on the streets of Rio should begin in the first half of 2024. According to the secretary, the proposal has been studied for some time and is in the detail phase.

In an interview with CNN Brasil, Soranz said that the program will be permanent and carried out in the municipality’s own units, under the supervision of health professionals qualified to treat chemical dependency. The secretary also stated that there will be criteria for hospitalizations.

“This is a health action for patients who are already monitored by the municipal health network and who have a medical recommendation for hospitalization. The project will be aimed at extreme cases in which there is a risk to the patient’s life,” said Soranz.

The design of the project, according to the secretary, also idealizes the monitoring of the family and people close to the patient during treatment, and that, at the end of hospitalization, support will be made available from Psychosocial Care Centers and assisted living facilities. In principle, there will be no interference from the Municipal Public Order Secretariat (SEOP) in the program.

Asked about the positions of international bodies, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which are contrary to the compulsory hospitalization policy, Soranz said that these recommendations refer to hygienic actions that prevent the movement of the homeless population, and that do not apply to the project developed by the secretariat.

*Under the supervision of Marcos Rosendo.