Vlahopoulou Melpomeni Ioanna is a prevention worker of the Prevention Centres SEIRIOS, designing and implementing prevention programs for children, families, teachers, young adults for the past 17 years. She has studied Psychology and received her MSc in Criminal Law and Addictions both in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Abstract
Family and drug addiction: An attempt to explore its connection through the lived experiences of the members of the prison based therapeutic community KETHEA PROMITHEAS
The aim of the research is to provide an accurate portrayal of the experiences of the members of the therapeutic community KETHEA PROMITHEAS, regarding the structure and functioning of the family and how it may have contributed to the establishment of substance addiction.
The sample consisted of 22 members of the therapeutic community KETHEA PROMITHEAS, operating in the Judicial Prison of Diavata.
A semi-structured interview was used for data collection and interpretative phenomenological analysis was used for data analysis. The present research is in the form of a secondary analysis, as data used in previous research.
The findings revealed that the structure and function of the family appear to play a decisive role in establishing substance addiction. The climate within the family, relationships with parents, the presence of close relatives who are or were addicted, the absence of boundaries, poor communication, school dropout, and psychopressive events seem to be common places for most people participating. The need to imply quality and effective family programs has emerged.