[Why is environmental adaptation and acculturation relevant when seeking to conduct qualitative research in drug dependency services?].

This study conducted at the Outpatient Service of Psychoactive Substances, in the University General Hospital of Campinas, sought to report on an experience of proactive participation to study the life experience of chemically dependent patients attended in a specialized university service. These observations emerged from the researcher's experiences in the environmental adaptation and acculturation period, namely through the researcher insertion in the outpatient service, during the preliminary data collection for qualitative research. This experience was important as it enabled clearer comprehension of the psycho-cultural universe of the population attended and how the relation professional-patient is conducted, broadening the knowledge of the field where the research was later carried out.