<b>Drug use by institutionalized youngsters: the family's perspective</b> - doi: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v11i5.17072

Abstract

The purpose of this work was reporting the view of relatives of institutionalized youngsters about the reasons for their initiation on the drug’s use. Descriptive cross-sectional study developed in the municipalities of Rolandia and Cambe - Parana, at New Life Recovery Center, with 11 family members responsible for the youngsters. We used a script for semi structured interview. Analysis of the data followed the content analysis technique by proposed by Minayo. Family and social relations, family structure and family communication were related to the initiation of drug use by the institutionalized youngsters. The studied group presented several unfavorable events at the home environment, which may have been a. inducing factor on the drug abuse: precarious socioeconomic conditions; loss of family member in childhood by death; diseases in the family, especially the use of alcohol and drugs; fights and separation of parents; physical and psychological intra-family violence; social violence and coexistence with the crime. It is concluded that the identification of factors, by family members, which led the youngster to the use of drug is on the overvaluation of peer group relationship and to a lesser extent to lack of parental affection. Parents did not feel mutually responsible by the initiation of their children on drugs.