An experience with the Gaining Autonomy and Medication Management approach for users of drugs: creating autonomy

Citation

de Campos Avarca, C.A., et al. An experience with the Gaining Autonomy and Medication Management approach for users of drugs: creating autonomy. (2018) J Addict Depend 4(1): 4- 7.

Abstract

Gaining Autonomy and Medication Management (GAM) is a strategy in the mental health field that seeks to foster co-responsibility in health care between users, workers, and family members, encouraging user autonomy in regard to medication treatments as well as the ability to negotiate with the health care team. More recently, GAM methodology has been used as a harm reduction strategy in the health field in cases of use of alcohol and other drugs, focusing on the relationship with psychoactive substances. In this text, we present an experience with GAM methodology at a Center for Psychosocial Care for users of alcohol and other drugs in an area of social vulnerability in the city of São Paulo (Brazil), where we followed users and professionals in training support. The experience, ongoing since May 2017, has taken place across two moments: the training process of the professionals on the team by means of workshops for a collective production of knowledge, and a discussion group with workers, users, and researchers focusing on experiences of drug use and medication, besides demands for mental health care and quality of life, led by the use of GAM guides for both user and moderator. The consequent effects are: an increase in commitment, autonomy, and actions of reduced use by users; creation of a space where professional scan consider conducts and evaluate processes; more openness, empathy, and proximity in the professional-user relationship; changes in the forms of expression, of attention, and of introspection of participants, as well as appreciation of the group.