Treatment of female and male inpatient crack users: a qualitative study

Abstract

The relationship between relapse and a social environment conducive to consumption, associated with belief or disbelief in spiritual support, prostitution, and the legal complications arising from the use of crack, are relevant issues and should be taken into consideration in the development of preventive actions aimed at this specific population.

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the Crack Use Relapse Scale (CURS)

“…Therefore, we chose to simplify items 6 and 7 to "No hope" and "Dissatisfaction" respectively. On the basis of our theoretical knowledge in the results of prior studies conducted by our team 5 , we had developed a priori postulates on the relationships between the measured variables and the factors defined initially. If on one hand the adjustment indices CFI, AGFI and TLI were moderate and the RSEMA index was fully satisfactory, indicating the appropriate model CURS, which was confirmed at the time that the scale was applied crack usersed by the adequacy of goodness-of-fit indices [11][12][13] .…”

“…A heterogeneous, diverse sample is usually advised for validation studies, but our sample was entirely male, as male crack users are still more likely to receive treatment in Brazil 5 . The facility where the study was conducted has a dedicated unit for treatment of male users, but no such unit for women, even though we believe studies of female samples would be important.…”

“…According to the media, over 70% of crack cocaine users treated at inpatient drug dependence care facilities will relapse after discharge. However, scientifically sound data on what really happens to this population after discharge are still lacking 5 . The CURS proved adequate for assessment of risk factors associated with relapse after discharge and can also be used for follow-up interviews within a psychosocial treatment model 3 , which we believe to be an essential intervention for following the trajectory of crack users after discharge from rehabilitation and, perhaps, even modifying the now almost-certain outcome that is relapse.…”

“…The development of the scale, presenting the pilot study and initial psychometric validation emphasizing the exploratory factor analysis can be accessed, respectively, in two previous publications 5,6 .…”

“…A qualitative study 5 in which 14 crack users were interviewed showed that family, emotions, feelings, coping, sex, treatment, crime, positive expectations and craving are factors associated with relapse. Those reports served as basis for the instrument presented in another paper 6 .…”