Life history and alcoholism: social representations of adolescents

Abstract

This descriptive qualitative study employed the Theory of Social Representations. It aims to describe the adolescents' social representations on alcoholism and to analyze the insertion of alcoholism in their life history. The study context was an institution in the city of Belém, PA and the subjects were 40 adolescents. Data was collected through life history technique. The thematic content analysis established two categories: the alcoholism in the adolescents' life, alcoholism and alcoholics and their social representations. The insertion of alcoholic beverage within the family and its improper use represented the first contact of the adolescents with alcohol and other drugs. The study revealed the importance of uncovering the adolescents' universe on alcoholism to promote this problem's understanding as a psychosocial phenomenon.