The construction of autonomy for professionals who work with drug users: An analysis of two intervention projects in the largest asylum centre in Brazil.

Based on results of two intervention projects with professionals working with drug users in Sorocaba, São Paulo, the article discusses the possibilities of health promotion in the field of mental health, understood as a form of resistance to the regulatory powers of official policies. The projects proved to be promising for the construction of autonomy of these workers. The guiding principles of humanized care in health care and respect for human rights of drug users proved to be important tools for these interventions as were university extramural activities.