# Family Members’ Help-Seeking Behaviour for Their Relative Who Uses Substances: A Cross-Sectional National Study in Brazil

## TL;DR

This study in Brazil found that most family members of people with substance use issues seek help, but many delay it due to various barriers.

## Contribution

The study identifies regional and socioeconomic disparities in help-seeking behavior and factors that delay it among family members in Brazil.

## Key findings

- 92.7% of family members sought help, but 66.0% delayed it for an average of 37.2 months.
- Help seeking was more common in higher socioeconomic groups and the Southeast region.
- Barriers included refusal by the relative and belief that help was unnecessary.

## Abstract

The affected family members (AFM) of relatives with substance use problems (RSU) play an important role in supporting their relatives to enter substance use treatment. This study investigated the help-seeking behaviours for their relatives by AFM in Brazil, including the characteristics of those who sought help and the risk factors for delaying it. A secondary analysis from a national cross-sectional study of 3030 AFM was performed. Participants were recruited from a range of services focused on AFM across each of the five Brazilian regions (North, Northeast, Central-West, Southeast, South). While 92.7% sought help, 66.0% delayed for an average of 37.2 (SD 70.71) months. Help seeking was associated with higher socioeconomic status and being from the Southeastern region. Barriers included the relative refusing help (31.5%) and the belief that help was not needed (20.6%). Longer delays were associated with female AFM, residents in the Central-West region, non-parents, older RSU, alcohol use, and withdrawal coping strategies. The findings show disparities in help-seeking behaviour across socioeconomic groups, regions, and substance types, highlighting the need for better healthcare workforce distribution and targeted interventions to educate AFMs on the importance of engagement with healthcare services.