ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The use of psychoactive substances is an ancient and universal practice, which accompanies the history of humanity. Currently, the crack spread across the world because it has greater potential for addiction compared to other drugs since users find it difficult to stop the use of crack and cope with craving and anxiety. It is essential to have a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach to the user, with the use of cognitive-behavioral techniques that address the relapse prevention strategies. In this context, the cooperative games (CGs) and the relaxation breathing (RB) are possible strategies for therapeutic management.
Objectives:
To evaluate the use of CG and RB as craving and anxiety coping strategies in crack users in addiction situation.
Methods:
This is an exploratory research, almost experimental, with a quantitative approach, developed in a detoxification unit for chemical dependence in the state of Paraíba.
Results:
The sample consisted of 40 crack addict volunteers older than 18 years. To evaluate the effects of CG and RB on craving and anxiety the following instruments were used: Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief (CCQ-B) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-E). The results showed that the CG and RB reduced the scores of the total craving and anxiety. As for the F1 factor, only CG showed satisfactory results.
Conclusion:
CG and RB demonstrated efficacy as coping strategies for craving and anxiety in crack users in addiction situation in the conditions under which the study was developed.
Keywords:
anxiety; behavior; addictive; crack cocaine; craving