[Perception of life's meaning by drug-dependent patients]

This study aims to determine how the drug dependent patient subjectively experiences his purpose in life, as well as establishing guide-lines for activating an experience of a life with a purpose during the rehabilitation programme of the drug dependent patient. A qualitative model of research using an explorative and descriptive contextual study was used. By using a non-probable convenience selection method, 15 voluntary drug dependent patients were defined as units of analysis in order to determine the extent of their subjective experience of their purpose in life, using a semi-structured interview with the help of the "Purpose in life Test". The units of analysis complied with the criteria for drug dependency and were studied within the given context, i.e. the short term unit inside the hospital environment. Data obtained, after completing the instrument of measurement, was processed using the point allocation system of the attitude scale in the first section, a coding and frequency analysis of important words in the second section, and the phenomenological method of Giorgi in the third section. The results indicated that 14 out of the 15 units of analysis experienced their purpose in life as weak. From these results a programme for the activating of purpose in life experience was proposed and implemented on a single drug dependent patient who was selected as a case study. The data obtained during the presentation of the programme consist of summaries made by the therapist during the course of each session, and independent evaluations of the therapist and the patient.