Brazilian minister disagrees with results of drug survey, shelves report and attacks researchers

By Xiu Ying

From 2014 to 2017, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation conducted 16,000 interviews and assigned 50 researchers to develop the third national survey on drug use by the Brazillian population.

Given its scope, the study was expensive: R$7 million (US$1.75m), paid for by the government, which has now shelved the research, preventing Fiocruz from disclosing it.

Prohibition of its publication was met by surprise from the scientific community. For researchers and specialists in the field, the study has been shelved because it does not confirm the existence of a drug epidemic in the country, as Osmar Terra, the Minister of Citizenship, often proclaims exists.

Senad officially claims that the survey has not been released because Fiocruz failed to comply with the requirements of the public bid procedure. On the other hand. the minister se,s to confirm what experts suspect by attacking the institution and claiming that the survey does not corroborate what is seen "on the streets"