The trajectory of crack users to the street situation in the perspective of family members.
Maycon Rogério Seleghim, Sueli Aparecida Frari Galera
PMID 31487440WHAT IT FOUND
Family members described crack users' street trajectory as beginning in childhood with school problems, trauma and family strain.
They often noticed behaviour changes before they knew crack use was the cause, then coped by searching, accepting or excluding the user.
Key findings
01Family members placed the beginning of the street trajectory in childhood, describing suffering contexts that continued through later cycles.
02Many family members did not know that behaviour changes were caused by crack use until they noticed signs or were told by someone close.
03Coping with street situation episodes was ambivalent, including searching or not, allowing or refusing home entry, and letting the user go or putting them out.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only eleven family members were interviewed, all from one service in one city, so the themes may not represent other families or settings. Most participants were mothers, and the study did not include the crack users themselves, so it captures one family viewpoint. The study is qualitative and descriptive; it cannot show that childhood trauma, school problems or family vulnerability caused crack use or street living. The authors note the sample may be limited to family members still available to keep caring for the user, so families who had disengaged may be missing.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat the reported childhood trauma, school problems and family vulnerability as evidence that they caused crack use or street living. This qualitative study records how family members explained the trajectory, not a tested cause.