This study describes how ex-alcoholic adults have experienced change stages in drinking cessation, at stages of contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance. Five ex-alcoholics were interviewed about factors that hampered and helped the change, and coping strategies used for every stage. Exposition to aversive situations associated to drinking was reported as the strongest helpful factor in preparation stage, as the social support was in action and maintenance stages. Benefits associated to drinking were the most relevant factors that hampered change in all stages. The most important coping strategies related were asking for social support and avoidance from risk situations to drink. Implications to intervention and new researches are discussed.
alcoholism; drinking behavior; coping behavior; transtheoretical model
