Psychotherapeutic and deontological criticism of the residential system for addictions in Ecuador

Introduction: In 2022 Ecuador became the third country with the most cocaine seized in the world, a phenomenon related to the accelerated growth of the "Specialized Addiction Treatment Centers" - CETAD, which vastly outnumber those of the State. Establishments that for years carry a series of complaints for deaths, violations of constitutional norms, health and human rights, acts that, in the majority, have gone unpunished. Objective: To analyze the deontological and psychotherapeutic reality of the residential treatment system for addictions that has been managed for decades in Ecuador, the same one that has not evolved in its primary therapeutic structures. Method: A documentary search of a total of 75 articles was carried out, selecting the 34 main ones published from 2017 to 2022, from the databases: Scielo, MEDLINE, Dialnet, Psicodoc, PsycArticles, and the main media in the country. Results: The research shows that the first addiction treatments were empirical and based on punishment, torture and aggression, there have been improvements in the physical infrastructures, changes at the therapeutic level, without being sufficiently avant-garde for a successful psychotherapeutic intervention, there is a very poor compliance with bioethical regulations, despite the creation of various State control bodies. Conclusions: The rehabilitation processes for drug addicts need updating and adaptation to the needs of the Ecuadorian population, an urgent application of government strategies for compliance with regulations and respect for human rights.