Prague, Nov 24 (CTK) – The number of problematic drug users did not grow in the Czech Republic in 2015 for the first time from 2003 and it even dropped by 800 to 46,900 compared to 2014, Pavla Chomynova, from the National Drugs and Addictions Monitoring Centre, told a press conference on Thursday.
The number of pervitin (methamphetamine) users annually decreased by 2200 to 34,200 last year.
Jindrich Voboril, national drug coordinator, said there are several reasons for this. “One of them is an improvement in the economic situation because the numbers reflect social certainties of people and their employment.”
“At the same time, the government raised means for this sphere, particularly for specific and individual care of people, which should not be mechanical,” Voboril said.
The state spent 1.17 billion crowns on anti-drug policy last year, compared to 1.01 billion in 2014. Further money was provided by the self-rule regions and towns, according to an annual report for 2015 presented by Chomynova.
Pervitin remains the major drug of problematic users in the country. However, the number of addicts decreased last year. More people used opioids such as heroin and buprenorphine, a drug that has considerably spread in the recent period, the report says.
Opioids killed 20 people last year, compared to 15 killed by pervitin.
A total of 44 people died of illegal drug overdosing.
About 10,000 people were treated for drug addiction in the Czech Republic, including 2,200 persons on substitution treatment.
Access to substitution treatment is bad in some regions and only few doctors prescribe it to patients. In addition, substitution treatment is not covered by health insurers and the clients have to cover the costs by themselves, the report says.
A new registry of drug users’ treatment (NRLUD) has been in operation since March 2015. It registers patients addicted to illegal and legal substances and gambling.
Problems still accompany the registry’s operation, Chomynova said.
There are about 260 addictology facilities in the Czech Republic, 30 of which offer hospitalisation. About 100 facilities offer out-patient programmes and others provide street services.
Access to aid is satisfactory in Prague and the Usti and Moravia-Silesia regions, and it is the worst in the Karlovy Vary region, according to the report.
Chomynova said the share of Czechs who have used an illegal drug in their life remains unchanged, roughly 35 percent.
