Aim: to identify the need for brief intervention in a group of male users of a public health service. Method: This is a quantitative study of an exploratory and descriptive nature, whose subjects were recruited through a census. Results: It was found that 67% of the subjects had scores of occasional use, and one of the subjects presented scores indicating dependence. 31% had scores indicating abuse, suggesting, therefore, the possibility of a benefit of brief interventions. Discussion: The

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... subjects had low education levels and low incomes, two situations that can lead to social vulnerability. Of the subjects who presented scores indicating abusive use, some reported this pattern of consumption for two substances. Conclusion: From these results we highlight the relevance of the integration of brief interventions and evaluative tools related to substance dependence in nursing practice in different health services.