Family member with chemical dependence and consequent overburden suffered by family: Descriptive research

Abstract

Problem: health professionals should provide support to the family of drugs addicts due to the overload experienced in this process. Objective: The objective was to analyze the difficulties faced by the family in the treatment of the chemically dependent family member. Method: Qualitative descriptive study. We used a semi-structured interview by means of a script and treatment analysis of the data content. 05 families took part in the study at a public psychiatric hospital located in the city of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in 2007. Results: families reported as difficulties the abandonment of treatment by the patient and his regression, the emotional burden and the non- forwarding to services outside the hospital by the health team. Conclusions: It was concluded that there is a need for greater coordination of services for primary and secondary care in Mental Health, so as to minimize the difficulties faced by the family. The family that takes care of chemically dependent has an important and indispensable social role to the consolidation of the psychiatric reform in the country.