title: Conceptions of mid-level nursing professionals facing those with a chemical dependency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to describe and understand the conceptions of nursing assistants working in Psychosocial Care Centers for alcohol and drugs (CAPS ad), about the patient with addictions.
  
  
  METHODS
  sixteen nursing assistants and technicians from nine of the CAPS ad in São Paulo were interviewed, and data were analyzed using the constant comparative method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  performing the functions in the CAPS ad enabled the change in staff's conception from a stigmatizing and prejudiced view, to the concept of chemical dependence as a disease and those who are chemically dependent as patients with comorbidities and family problems, in need of help and treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  professional practice in specialized services for alcohol and other drugs enables changes in the staff's conceptions about chemically dependent individuals, highlighting the need to include the subject of alcohol and drugs in the school curriculum.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Divane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Vargas
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marina Nolli
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Anna Carolina Oliveira
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Janaína
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Erika Gisseth Leon
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Ramirez
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D009728:Nursing Assistants; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders