To analyze the accessibility of drug users to public health services in the Argentineancities of Buenos Aires and Rosario. Searching for the best understanding of the minimalrelation of drug users with health care services, this study started with the analysis of thepractices and social representations of drug use among health workers that assist thispopulation.MethodsThis study had a qualitative approach. An interview with open and closed questions wasused with 129 health care workers in both cities pertaining to the services of the publichealth sector of the municipal environment. We reached a representative sample ofworkers directly connected to drug users. Fieldwork was carried out between the monthsof October and December of 2006. The international ethical principles of equality,voluntary participation, anonymity, and confidentiality were followed.Study ResultsThe most mentioned barriers to access were cultural, referred to as a type of “way oflife” of drug users related not to a concern for their health or an oversight of scheduledappointments. In some attributed cases, the problem related to the effects of their drugconsumption (35.7%) and not others (61%). They also mentioned problems with theorganization of health and treatment services (56.8%) such as: bureaucracy, inadequateschedules, long waiting periods, and problems in the patient-health worker relationship.They presented two types of contradictory proposals of political management of theprograms directed to drug users: to create and/strengthen centers and professionalspecialities (36.7%) and interdisciplinary community interventions (37.5%).ConclusionsWe observed a tendency of health workers to hierarchize the cultural barriers to healthcare access in the case of drug users.The proposals of political management show the tension between policies centeredaround professional specialization and institutionalization and those that promote aninterdisciplinary paradigm with community interventions.