Abstract

"Background: In Chile, crack or free-base Cocaine (FBC) use is associated with social isolation and drug traffic. This fact might be conditioning a hidden population of CBP users. The aim of the study was to characterize a sample of out-of-treatment CBP users by means of Privileged Access Interviewing in two districts of Santiago. Methods: Nine privileged access interviewers were trained to administer a questionnaire about substance use patterns and related risk behaviors. Results: 160 CBP users were recruited. The median age of the sample was 21 years (min: 12; max: 46). Gender distribution was 61,9% male. CBP was the primary abused substance in 85% of the sample. The median days of use in the last month was 23 days (min: 0; max: 30) and the median daily dose in the last month was 4,2 gr/day (min:0; max:75). The median age of onset of CBP use was 16 years (min: 8; max: 37). Conclusions: The pattern of substance use of this out-of-treatment sample seems to be more serious than the pattern of a general population sample reported by a National Survey in the same territorial areas. This sample, or part of it, might be a hidden population of CBP users"