Abstract
Drug users are associated to irresponsibility and delinquency, which makes it difficult for them to be heard. This study sought to know and to analyze the content and structure of drug-user’s social representation. The sample included 30 under-treatment drug addicts in a psychiatric institution in João Pessoa-PB. An interview – analyzed by the Thematic Content Analysis –, and a Free Association of Words Technique – analyzed from EVOC – were used. The instruments were individually administrated inside the institutional environment. The drug user’s social representation was seen as negative, as he is considered as a bad character, and as a sick and an unreliable person without the capacity of fighting against his addiction. In conclusion, these representations might have negative outcomes on the users’ lives as they acquire status of truth, guiding their behaviors and the way they comprehend their realities.
Drugs; Drug user; Drug Addiction; Social Representations