The involvement of family in treatment has been pointed like the predictor of chemical dependence therapeutic success. In this sense, a quality investigation was done, using the case study of addict and his family, assisted by a health institution, selected by convenience, for the identification of familial relations manifestation in these contexts. For the data collecting, interviews, genogram and family groups records were used. The data analysis was done from the family systemic comprehension. The study points out the need of understanding chemical dependency as a phenomenon that can be influenced by familiar dynamic, reinforcing functioning aspects to the symptom maintenance. Treating the familiar disfunctioning is a protection factor to the drugs using, and prevention to relapse.
chemical dependence; family relationships; family systems theory