The family relationships with adolescents users of psychoactive substances: the parents’ perception

Abstract

The objective of this study is to discussthe experience of families caring for adolescents users of psychoactive substances, in the scope of its functioning. Aqualitativedescriptive studyand the participants were the parents of adolescents drug users from a PsychosocialAttention Center for Alcohol and Drugs in the inner state of São Paulo. Semi-structured interviews were conductedand the data was analyzed using content analysis technique, thematic category. The results pointed that parents had difficulties in establishing an assertive dialogue with their sons and daughters, in developing a hierarchical role and in establishing limits for the adolescent. Such situations cause ambivalent feelings and negative emotions mobilizing them to search for support in the family, informational, religious and instrumental scope. Itis concludedthat care should involve the adolescent whoconsumes drugs and the family, considering the interactional, organizational and communicational aspects of the family collective.