Family functioning of out-of-treatment cocaine base paste and cocaine hydrochloride users.
Knowledge of family structure and behavioral dynamics of out-of-treatment drug users under poverty becomes relevant, because of the role that the family plays in drug use and rehabilitation.


OBJECTIVE
1. The perception of drug users about their family functioning reveals a dysfunctional organization and communication-connection problems with their families; and 2. the family system of cocaine base paste (CBP) users presents greater dysfunctionality than cocaine hydrochloride (CH) users.


METHODS
Cross-sectional descriptive design of primary users of CH (n=236) and primary users of CBP (n=231) during the last month, out-of-substance abuse treatment during the last 6 months.


METHODS
Risk Behavior Questionnaire and How-Is-Your-Family Questionnaire.


RESULTS
The total sample presented 72.9% of families with risk functioning; CBP users registered a more deteriorated family structure and communication-connection than CH users.


CONCLUSIONS
CBP and CH users, who are hidden from health treatment services, do indeed present a high degree of family dysfunction; and the CBP group, compared to the CH group, presented various indicators of greater risk in their family dysfunction.
Hidalgo Carmona
Carmen Gloria
CG
School of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. V.Mackenna 4860, Santiago de Chile, Chile. cghidalg@uc.cl <cghidalg@uc.cl>
Santis Barros
Rodrigo
R
Rodríguez Tobar
Jorge
J
Hayden Canobra
Viviana
V
Anselmo Montequín
Enzo
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002677:Chile; D003042:Cocaine; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D003042:Cocaine