Abstract

CONSUMPTION OF PSYCHO-STIMULANT DRUGS BY CARGO TRANSPORT PROFESSIONALS ON THE PRESIDENTE EURICO GASPAR DUTRA HIGHWAY, SÃO PAULO, SP – BRAZIL

Ellen Cristina Rangel Bassoti, José Teófilo de Souza, Ronny Peterson Valim Quadra and Matheus Diniz Gonçalves Coêlho*

ABSTRACT

The transportation of goods by land is the main means of product distribution and an important factor in driving the economy in Brazil. Due to the high demand for transportation, many truck drivers find themselves compelled to meet deadlines, which sometimes leads them to use pharmacological and non-pharmacological resources to suppress sleep, using psycho-stimulant substances commonly known as "rebites" (uppers). This study consists of a field research conducted through a questionnaire with the aim of identifying and quantifying the use of amphetamines among cargo transport professionals who travel on Brazilian highways. The goal was to gather data on the use of stimulating substances by these professionals, as well as identify possible distribution locations and adverse reactions experienced by them. Data were collected from truck drivers operating in the Vale do Paraíba region in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It was observed that 70.2% of the respondents use some type of psycho-stimulant substance, with caffeine (83.7%) being the most commonly used, followed by sibutramine (14.3%) and femproporex (6.1%). It was also observed that these professionals experience symptoms such as tachycardia, high blood pressure, and irritability, highlighting the need for awareness efforts, particularly regarding the role of pharmacists in addressing the risks and consequences of using medications in this class, given that 32.6% of the total interviewees claim to have acquired these substances from pharmacies and drugstores.

Keywords: Amphetamines, Caffeine, Truckers, Psycho-stimulant drugs.