Perception of Quality of Life and State of Health in an Ambulatory Treatment for People with Substance Use Disorders

This present work investigated the perception of quality of life and state of health in people undergoing outpatient treatment for problematic consumption of psychoactive substances in a civil society organization of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (Fundacion Convivir). The sample consisted of 60 people (66.7% men and 33.3% women), made up of those who attend the program provided by the "General Direction of Social Policies in Addictions" and patients with private health coverage. This is an exploratory-descriptive research in which qualitative-quantitative methodology was used for the collection and analysis of the evidence. Variables of interest were surveyed to describe the characteristics of the sample, and two pre-established questionnaires (Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire Short form and SF-36) were applied to measure the quality of life in general and the state of health perceived by patients. Then a semi-directed interview was conducted with the objective of investigating questions specifically related to substance use in each unit of analysis (triggers of consumption, substances of use, degree of awareness of the patients regarding the harmful consequences of consumption, effects of the treatment), to finally cross the information with the preceding data. Results show that most patients receive more than one treatment throughout their lives, which is felt as a decrease in their perception of quality of life and state of health. Comorbidity with psychiatric pathologies directly affects the perception of quality of life and state of health. Inclusive strategies should lead to improve adherence to treatment, which might help to decrease the high levels of dropout rates that characterize these patients.