Nursing and health promotion care in drug consumption rooms

Objective: To know the nursing cares drug consumption rooms (DCRs) and the proposals for a more effective intervention. Methodology: Ethnographic study through participant observation in five DCRs and semi-structured interviews with eight nurses. We also compiled nursing intervention protocols. Data content analysis was performed. Results: In the DCRs, hygienic and safe consumption under specialized supervision is possible. However, nurses identify difficulties for health promotion related to hygienic injection, prevention of overdose and transmission of blood-borne infections. Nurses highlight the limitations in the design of the DCRs, especially in relation to the time frame of coverage of these facilities. In addition, they acknowledge deficits in the monitoring of high-risk and homeless drug users. Conclusions: It is necessary to improve preventive messages and complement nursing care with hygienic injection workshops. It is recommended to expand the dimensions of the DCRs, establish more spaces for pulmonary use and to spread the time coverage of its offer. The creation of shelters to improve the quality of life of homeless drug users is proposed.