This article carries out a general evaluation on the Social Representation category and its importance in the psychosocial investigation of alcoholism. One-hundred alcoholic persons were studied, 50 in treatment and 50 without treatment, residents in São João del Rei/MG. The techniques of interview and free association were applied. The social representation of alcoholism is analyzed in the sample as well as in each subgroup that was part of it. It was concluded that there is no general representation of alcoholism, but there are differences in the social representation of alcoholism among the subgroups, depending whether they receive treatment or not and if there is alcohol consumption.
social representation; alcoholism; alcoholics
