Zaostřeno na drogy 200706 (č. 6/2007) - Summary of the 2006 drug situation

Main Trends in 2006

• Drug use in the general population has become stable and the first signs of a decrease have been identified.
  
• The estimated number of problem drug users has stabilised at approximately 30,000.
  
• An estimation of the number of problem drug users of buprenorphine (Subutex®) has been made for the first time – it reached nearly 4,500 persons.
  
• The prevalence of cocaine and its use has remained at a very low level in the CzechRepublic.
  
• The number of (first) treatment demands has declined. The number of treated injecting drug users and those aged under 19 has also declined.
• The prevalence of infectious diseases (HIV, viral hepatitis B and C) among drug users has been stable, and no epidemic outbreak is taking place.
• The number of fatal drug overdoses has declined.
• There were no significant changes in drug-related crime or drug prices and drug purity.
• The number of needles and syringes distributed in exchange programmes has increased again.
• The number of patients in opiate substitution treatment has increased; however, little information is available about substitution treatment with Subutex®.
• The number of drug users tested for HIV and hepatitis viruses has declined again.
• There was an increase in the number of indirectly drug-related deaths (especially injuries and accidents, including traffic ones) with the presence of pervitin.