Treatment for alcohol and other drug problems in Brazil: a puzzle with missing pieces

This article describes the characteristics and problems of drug abuse treatment settings in Brazil, both for inpatient and outpatient modalities. Examples from the author's own clinical experience as consultant and researcher working in different parts of the country are used to illustrate the numerous disadvantages of the existing care system, with clear detriment to patients and to positive treatment outcome. In addition, the inadequacy and insufficiency of the training system for therapists and counselors is described, with particular emphasis on the distortions of the already existing models.