SOCIJALNI UZROCI RECIDIVA HEROINSKIH OVISNIKA
SOCIAL CAUSES OF HEROIN ADDICTS RELAPSE

Summary/Abstract: In this paper will be presented the results of the research which examined the influence of social factors on the occurrence of the relapse of heroin addicts who were involved in treatment in the therapeutic community, as well as the connection between support of the social environment, satisfaction with the quality of life and the occurrence of relapse. For the purposes of research the relapse implies on everyday use of heroin after a period of abstinence lasting more than one month. The sample consisted of 80 male drug addicts who had previously been treated in a therapeutic community (40 abstainers and 40 relapsers). The place of residence of the respondents is Canton Sarajevo. This work has confirmed that abstainers have statistically significantly higher social support from family members with whom they live, the support of friends and the community, than relapsers. The results of the study have shown that respondents who abstain have a higher level of quality of life compared to relapsers. Testing differences in the quality of life of the whole sample was made in relation to the level of education. It has been established that addicts with higher education have a higher level of quality of life. When quality-of-life comparisons were performed according to the working status within each of the groups, differences in the quality of life were not found. However, there are more employees in the group of abstainers (55%) than in the group of relapsers (27.5%). At the level of the whole sample, there was a statistically significant difference between those employed and the unemployed, with employees showing a higher degree of satisfaction with the quality of life. The results of the study indicate that the abstainers were more willing to seek help in maintaining abstinence from non-governmental organizations, social and health care institutions than relapsers. There is a statistically significant difference between abstainers and relapsers only when it comes to satisfaction with the services of social institutions, in a way that abstainers were more satisfied than relapsers. Recovered addicts need to be provided with organized forms of support after treatment, as well as to strengthen the support system within the family environment. This would contribute to the successful maintenance of abstinence and raise the level of satisfaction with the quality of life.

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