Regional Comparison of Drug Use and Its Consequences in the Czech Republic in 2002

International research shows connection between the incidence of unfavorable demographic and socioeconomic conditions (so called environmental risk factors), the incidence of unfavorable institutional conditions and the incidence and the extent of problem or risk forms of behavior, such as criminality or use of both licit and illicit addictive substances, as well as problems connected with drug use. This hypothesis is supported by the conclusions of the situation analysis and comparison of the environmental conditions and the character of substance use in the regions of the Czech Republic.

Available socio-demographic and economic indicators were combined with the data on the extent of criminality, distribution of services for drug users and their funding, and the character and the extent of drug use and its consequences. Based on the data from 14 regions, correlation, factor and cluster analyses were made to observe the relationship of individual indicators and to assess the similarities within the regions. Five types of regions were identified that differ in the demographic, socioeconomic and institutional indicators, as well as in the indicators of drug use.

Analysis proved that regions with higher extent of environmental risk factors show also higher extent of personal risk behavior, i.e. higher prevalence of drug use and its consequences concentrate in regions where the extent of social problems is higher.

The summary of the study conclusions is available here (54,71 kB) ; full version of the study is available in Czech only . A shortened English version (462,90 kB) is available as well.