<b>Feelings and codependent behavior in the family of illicit drugs users

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Current descriptive and qualitative study described feelings and codependent behavior in relatives of illicit drug users. Data were collected between March and April 2012 by an open interview with eight family members of illicit drugs-dependent individuals and subjected to theme-mode content analysis. Results were classified into two categories which showed intense suffering coupled to feelings of guilt, fear, shame, sadness, shame and manifestation of codependent behaviors such as denial and control of the one´s situation and that of others. Professionals should know the situation in which the families of drug addicts live to assist them in a different way. They should also identify codependent relatives, since they also need care so that their behavior does not worsen the symptoms and behavior of the drug user and prevents a possible medical or psychiatric diagnosis.Keywords: family, street drugs, drug-related disorders, feelings, behavior. Sentimentos e comportamentos codependentes em familiares de usuários de drogas ilícitasRESUMO. Estudo descritivo de natureza qualitativa que teve por objetivo descrever sentimentos e comportamentos codependentes em familiares de usuários de drogas ilícitas. Os dados foram coletados no período de março a abril de 2012 por meio de entrevista aberta com oito familiares de indivíduos com dependência química e submetidos à análise de conteúdo, modalidade temática. Os resultados foram compilados em duas categorias, as quais evidenciaram a vivência de intenso sofrimento com sentimentos de culpa, medo, vergonha, tristeza, pena e manifestação de comportamentos codependentes, como a negação, assumir o controle da situação sozinho entre outros. Conclui-se que os profissionais precisam conhecer a realidade das famílias de dependentes químicos a fim de poder assisti-las de forma diferenciada, identificando o familiar codependente, pois este também precisa de cuidado para que seu comportamento não agrave os sintomas e comportamentos de seu familiar-dependente e nem resulte para si, em um diagnóstico clínico ou psiquiátrico.Palavras-chave: família, drogas ilícitas, transtornos relacionados ao uso de substâncias. sentimentos, comportamento.

Quotidiano conflituoso de famílias que vivenciam o uso de drogas

“…So the families revealed exaggerated, altruistic, intrusive behaviors, with loss or inversion of roles, perpetuation of behaviors and intense dedication to the care of the subject dependent on drugs. The findings of this study corroborate the literature (2,14) , since fami-lies, which are at the heart of drug dependence, often concentrate efforts and attention on the dependent member. This fact is mainly because they care about the user and admit tragic life, that is, they take the risk that at any moment they may lose family, due to constant exposure to drug trafficking, violence and/ or diseases.…”

“…It is elucidated that interdependence is not a full and infeasible state, but is part of an intrinsic and modifiable family system and, in understanding this condition, health professionals can soften dysfunctional behavior through interventions in the group (2,14) . Therefore, in dealing with a nucleus enveloped by drug addiction, it is necessary to admit the intrinsic existence of organic sociality in daily family life, in order to understand that there are different ways of living and sharing, which must be respected by professionals who are favor of the group.…”

“…Another point to emphasize is affective exchanges, which can be so intense that they become hostile. There is evidence in the literature that links drug and alcohol consumption to interfamily violence, repetitive aggressive behavior, abandonment, humiliation, defamation, physical, psychological and verbal aggression (2,(15)(16) . Violence is characterized by a heterogeneous and multifactorial phenomenon involving individual, relational, social, cultural and environmental elements (17) .…”

“…The discourses revealed, in addition to violence, the perpetuation of drug dependence (licit and illicit) among the family generations. It is understood that subjects are products of family sociality, choices and opinions reflect this heritage (2) , and from the perspective of understanding sociology, it is understood that people, intuitively and not rationally, in order to preserve the family unity and postponing the inevitable, which is extinction, endure what has been learned, reverberating the same behaviors in future generations. (12) Thus, these standards need to be approached by health professionals, in order to interrupt them, it is difficult for the people involved to visualize such a situation and intervene positively.…”

“…However, the reality still shows difficulties in the implementation of these policies, highlighting the disarticulation between social and cultural reality, especially with the relative of the person dependent on drugs and the way in which health institutions organize and offer care (2) . Because models of attention are still reproduced that neglect the family and the social, environmental and cultural context of the family, indispensable to understand the health/illness process, and thus offer closer and more coherent care to people's reality (2)(3) .…”