The article, published by Teresita Rocha together with José Ruiz-Tagle and Álvaro Castillo-Carniglia, analyzes the factors influencing reentry into treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) in Chile, a phenomenon that has been little studied in Latin America. Although reentry is often interpreted as a failure, the research shows that in the case of addictions it may reflect both systemic shortcomings and the sustained effort of individuals to recover.
Using a mixed-methods approach, the team analyzed quantitative data from 107,559 treatment episodes between 2010 and 2019 and conducted 14 in-depth interviews with patients in Santiago, providing insight into the social, family, and environmental experiences linked to this process.
Among the findings, completing an outpatient treatment reduced the risk of reentry, while residential treatments did not show a protective effect, as patients often return to high-risk environments without adequate preparation. Women were found to have a higher risk of reentry than men, due to caregiving responsibilities, stigma, and social pressures. In addition, the use of cocaine base paste was more strongly associated with reentry than alcohol use. Economic instability and lack of social support were also identified as factors that increase vulnerability to relapse.
The study concludes that reentry should be understood as part of a non-linear recovery process, rather than a failure. It highlights the importance of strengthening post-discharge follow-up, particularly in residential treatments, as well as implementing community support networks and targeted measures to reduce women’s caregiving burdens.
This research provides key evidence for designing public policies that are more sensitive to gender, economic, and contextual inequalities in addiction treatment in Chile.
