Profile and pattern of crack use by children and adolescents living on the streets

an integrative review

Abstract

It was performed an integrative literature review to gather information about the profile and standard of crack use by children and adolescents living on the streets. 19 articles in international databases were selected, published between 2000-2010. It was found that the use is a harmful pattern, especially frequent in dysfunctional families, in social fragility, in contexts of violence and exclusion, where are used multiple drugs and suffer injuries, especially sexually transmitted diseases, injuries associated with violence, respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and psychosocial implications. This scenario requires intersectoral action, still scarce in the international situation, in the areas of education, health, security and assistance for the implementation of strategies for prevention and treatment of crack and complications.