Introduction: Previous results showed a significant decrease in cocaine-using days among cocaine users treated homeopathic fifty-millesimal (LM) potencies of Opium and Erythroxylum coca, as compared to placebo. Those results might have been biased by low adhesion of crack-cocaine users to treatment, trend that has been observed in clinical trials and practice, usually performed in specialized services. Objectives: to investigate 1) the effectiveness and tolerability of LMpotencies of Opium and Erythroxylum coca for cocaine-related disorders and 2) the effectiveness of a qualified primary care setting in increasing treatment attendance and retention. Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover clinical trial with twelve-week study duration per patient will be performed. 120 participants aged between 18 and 60 years, with Assist score for cocaine between 4 and 26 will be included. Exclusion criterion: urinary benzoylecgonine < 150 ng/mL. Participants will receive verum for 6 weeks followed by placebo for 6 weeks, or vice-versa. Primary endpoint: percentage of reported number of cocaine using days at week 6. Secondary endpoints: percentage of reported number of cocaine using days during participation in the study; percentage of positive benzoylecgonine samples; cocaine craving score, daily craving episodes number, craving episodes mean duration, patient perception of medication action favoring craving reduction (assessed by Minnesota Cocaine Craving Scale); Assist score for cocaine; treatment attendance; retention in treatment; Adverse Events. Discussion: For the first time, this study utilizes a primary care setting as a platform to increase treatment adhesion of cocaine users and assess the effectiveness of homeopathy for cocaine-related disorders.

Introduction: Homeopathy and other integrative and complementary health practices were included in the Brazilian public health system (SUS) under a formal policy established by the Health Ministry in 2006 [1]. This led to an increase in the demand of homeopathic assistance, not accompanied by a corresponding increase in human and material resources [2,3,4]. On the other hand, an evaluation of market demands carried out by the Education Ministry (MEC) in 2000 led to a reform of the syllable of undergraduate pharmacy courses, which thus included formal teaching of homeopathy [2]. Aims: To make a preliminary quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the teaching of homeopathy in undergraduate pharmacy courses in Brazilian States Paraná and Santa Catarina as to the establishment of a formal discipline, academic credits and the qualification of professors. Methods: The MEC Internet database was surveyed looking for universities with undergraduate courses in pharmacy and their study programs were screened online as to the inclusion of formal teaching of homeopathy. Deans and professors were sent a semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the model developed by the Brazilian Association of Homeopathic Physicians (ABFH) [5]. Questions sought to assess the formal institutionalization of the teaching of homeopathy (categories, credits) and the qualification of professors. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Uniandrade (Process No. 316/2009). Results: 25 schools in Paraná (PR) and 12 in Santa Catarina (SC) have undergraduate courses of pharmacy. Four schools in PR were excluded from this study because they do not exhibit data online and no questionnaires were returned. From the remaining 21, 20 (95.2%) include homeopathy in their study program and 6 (28.6%) returned questionnaires. In SC, 1 school exhibits no data and 1 school does not include homeopathy in its study program, the remainder 10 (83.3%) do and 4 returned questionnaires. As a whole, from the initial sample, 30 schools include homeopathy and one does not; 10 questionnaires were returned. The overall credits of pharmacy courses measured in hours are 3,760-5,157 (~4,458) in PR and 3,096-4,968 (~4,217) in SC. The discipline specifically devoted to homeopathy is named in different ways, the most frequent term used is “homeopathic pharmacotechnics” (PR= 8, SC= 6). Its corresponding credits are 36-136 (~72.4) in PR and 32-72 (~57.6) in SC. In PR in 1 school (5%) and in SC in 2 schools (20%) homeopathy is optional, in all other cases is mandatory. All professors (n= 10) teaching homeopathy are pharmacists, 5 hold a MA and 3 a PhD degree, 3 are board certified; 7 have specific raining in homeopathy, whereas 3 do not. Conclusions: Homeopathy has been included in almost all pharmacy undergraduate courses in PR and SC. In most schools, credits measured as hours is adequate (minimum required= 60h). However, a wider availability of courses and teachers with better qualifications are still needed.