Abstract

Overcoming drug addiction is a psychosocial transition which implies substantial processes of redefinition of the self image. The residential Community is a specific form of treatment based on the role of interpersonal relations in fostering processes of change. This research studies the evolution of certain dimensions of the self experience in 32 drug addicts during an eighteen-month period of treatment spent at one of eight residential Communities considered with non-behavouristic orientation. As part of the four surveys held at six-monthly intervals the participants compiled a special questionnaire. Eighteen months after entering treatment, positive changes were observed both in the representations and in the attitudes towards themselves, and in their psychological wellbeing and self-esteem as well as in the temporal perspective. The changes observed mainly concern the private rather than the public dimension of the self and appear more evident between period 2 and 3 (6-12 months) and between period 3 and 4 (12-18 months). Altogether they suggest that the process of transition has been successful and confirm a positive evolution of the self experience of the subjects.