Narcissistic Deficiencies and Coping Strategies in Drug Addicts in Prison: A Psychopathological Approach to Disability and the Problem of Reintegration into Drug Addiction

The need to conduct this study is based on the finding made during the pre-investigation of subjects incarcerated in the PCY. Indeed, we have observed that the subjects are in molasses feelings of strangeness, narcissistic depression and depersonalization, being under the influence of mental or symbolic failures resulting from a lack of narcissistic constitution of the self. And in the constant attempt to find solutions to this deep discomfort, their effort however is materialized by tendencies to anger, violence, aggressiveness and a continuous consumption of illicit drugs. At the end of the investigation itself and after having collected the subjects’ speeches through interviews, Rorschach and TAT, an analysis of the data using a psychodynamic approach allowed us to realize the confirmation of our general hypothesis. In other words, narcissistic failures in subjects determine their coping and psychosocial adjustment constituting mentalization and symbolization failures as well as a constant use of drug to obtain pleasure.