TITLE:
The Perspective of Crack Users Regarding Their Social Reintegration after the End of Treatment in Therapeutic Communities
AUTHORS:
Analu Schnorr, Adriana R. Binsfeld Hess, Laíssa Eschiletti Prati
KEYWORDS:
Crack Cocaine; Therapeutic Community; Social Reintegration
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.5 No.4,
March
31,
2014
ABSTRACT:
The use
of crack cocaine has been gaining
prominence in the media, because even though it’s a phenomenon that emerged
little more than twenty years ago, it’s already an epidemic in Brazil. The
large number of crack users
represents a public health problem, affecting family, professional and social
relations. This study investigated the perspectives of crack users regarding their social reintegration. The sample was
composed of ten addicted men between the ages of 19 and 37, admitted to
therapeutic communities for a social reintegration process. Semi-structured
interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed through Content Analysis.
The main results show that studying, working with addiction and meeting the
expectations of family appear to be the main objectives of this period of
rehabilitation. Other concerns that were quite emphasized referred to redeeming
and gaining acceptance of the family, making new friends and keeping away from
old ones (partners in use). As for their professional life, most respondents
cited working with recovery as a possibility. Among the reintegration
strategies, community work, the quest for God and church attendance, and
attending healthy environments were mentioned. Calling and/or talking with
friends was cited in relation to actions to be taken in case of a break down.
These results indicate that there are several aspects that surround the social
reintegration of crack addicts. They
also indicate different paths that can help develop new interventions to assist
dependents in the recovery phase.