Helena M T Sakiyama1, Maria de Fatima Rato Padin2, Martha Canfield3, Ronaldo Laranjeira4, Sandro Sendin Mitsuhiro5. 1. National Institute of Public Policy for Alcohol and Other Drugs (Instituto Nacional de Ciencia Tecnologia para Politicas Publicas do Álcool e Outras Drogas), Brazil; Federal University of São Paulo (Universidade Federal de São Paulo), Brazil. Electronic address: helenasakiyama@gmail.com. 2. National Institute of Public Policy for Alcohol and Other Drugs (Instituto Nacional de Ciencia Tecnologia para Politicas Publicas do Álcool e Outras Drogas), Brazil; Federal University of São Paulo (Universidade Federal de São Paulo), Brazil. Electronic address: Fatima.psi@globo.com. 3. National Institute of Public Policy for Alcohol and Other Drugs (Instituto Nacional de Ciencia Tecnologia para Politicas Publicas do Álcool e Outras Drogas), Brazil; University of Roehampton, London, UK. Electronic address: Martha.canfield@roehampton.ac.uk. 4. National Institute of Public Policy for Alcohol and Other Drugs (Instituto Nacional de Ciencia Tecnologia para Politicas Publicas do Álcool e Outras Drogas), Brazil; Federal University of São Paulo (Universidade Federal de São Paulo), Brazil. Electronic address: laranjeira@uniad.org.br. 5. National Institute of Public Policy for Alcohol and Other Drugs (Instituto Nacional de Ciencia Tecnologia para Politicas Publicas do Álcool e Outras Drogas), Brazil; Federal University of São Paulo (Universidade Federal de São Paulo), Brazil. Electronic address: smitsuhi@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study proposes to describe family members in the city of Sao Paulo who are seeking support in mutual self-help groups to deal with a substance misusing relative. METHOD: Five hundred participants (one participant per family) completed a structured questionnaire collecting socio-demographic information, length of time taken to seek help, and where they sought help. Participants were recruited from the mutual self-help group 'Amor Exigente' in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: Parents of substance misusers counted as the largest group of family members. It took an average time of 3.7 years for the family members to discover their relatives' substance misuse. 42% had then sought help immediately; it took an average of 2.6 years for the remaining 58% of the sample to seek some form of support. A belief that the substance misuse of their relatives was just a transient problem or that they could cope with the situation by themselves were among the most indicated reasons for delay in seeking help. DISCUSSION: Findings stress the importance of implementing services that take into account the difficulties families have in finding help to deal with the substance misusing relative.
BACKGROUND: This study proposes to describe family members in the city of Sao Paulo who are seeking support in mutual self-help groups to deal with a substance misusing relative. METHOD: Five hundred participants (one participant per family) completed a structured questionnaire collecting socio-demographic information, length of time taken to seek help, and where they sought help. Participants were recruited from the mutual self-help group 'Amor Exigente' in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: Parents of substance misusers counted as the largest group of family members. It took an average time of 3.7 years for the family members to discover their relatives' substance misuse. 42% had then sought help immediately; it took an average of 2.6 years for the remaining 58% of the sample to seek some form of support. A belief that the substance misuse of their relatives was just a transient problem or that they could cope with the situation by themselves were among the most indicated reasons for delay in seeking help. DISCUSSION: Findings stress the importance of implementing services that take into account the difficulties families have in finding help to deal with the substance misusing relative.
Authors: Gilmar Manoel de Barros; Alessandra Diehl; Adaene Alves Machado de Moura; Adriana Inocenti Miasso; Ronaldo Laranjeira; Cláudio Jerônimo da Silva; Sandra Cristina Pillon; Christopher Wagstaff; Ana Lucia de Moraes Horta Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-05-23 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Jadranka M Maksimovic; Olivera B Sbutega; Aleksandar D Pavlovic; Hristina D Vlajinac; Ivana I Kavecan; Isidora S Vujcic; Sandra B Grujicic Sipetic Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2022-08-05 Impact factor: 1.817