monitoring and research

(updated on 15 September 2004)
Czech National Focal Point for Drugs and Drug Addiction has carried out and published a study called “Regional Comparison of Drug Use and Its Consequences in the Czech Republic in 2002: Situation Analysis in Wider Demographic and Socioeconomic Context”. The summary of the study conclusions is available; full version of the study is available in Czech only. A shortened English version of the study is available now.

The newest Drugnet Europe 50, published bimonthly by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), reports on the study of Regional Comparison of Drug Use and Its Consequences in the Czech Republic in its Spotlight section.The article summarizes the key findings and conclusions of the study.

The National Drug Policy Strategy for the period from 2005 to 2009, approved under government Resolution No 1305/2004.

Summary of the prevalence estimates of problem drug use in the last 5 years in the Czech Republic has been carried out.

Since 2002 dancers tested their drug in qualitative tests provided by Czech NGOs are monitored in cooperation with the Czech monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction through short questionnaire on their socioeconomic characteristics, drug use and health consequences. Questionnaires completed in 2003 were analysed, see abstract bellow.

Annual Report on the 2003 drug situation in the Czech Republic has been published. Full text of the Annual Report is enclosed.

Secretariat of the Council of the Government for Drug Policy Coordination (National Drug Commission) has prepared an Interim Evaluation of Progress in Achieving the Main Objectives of the 2001 - 2004 National Drug Policy Strategy. The material summarizes the main trends of the developlment of the drug situation in the Czech Republic with regard to the 9 main objectives of drug policy as defined in the National Strategy.
Here (312,98 kB) you can find the full version of the material in English.

ADIKTOLOGIE is a modern professional journal addressing issues relating to the prevention and treatment of, and research into, addictions. It is an interdisciplinary journal reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the entire field of addiction, involving medicine and mental health, psychology, teaching, social policy and work, sociology, political science, law, criminology and other areas, without which it would be impossible to conceive of prevention, treatment or research. It is published since 2001.

The survey was focused on expierence, attitudes and needs of general practitioners (GPs) in Czech Republic in relation to the opioids agonists treatment. It was realised in the second semester 2003.
Read more in abstract below.

Evaluation study of preventive activities on the dance scene is planned to be cerried out since second semester 2004 (further assesment of the Czech government is required).
See the methodological paper (225,50 kB) on the study.

Mortality retrospective-prospective database linkage cohort study was carried out by Czech NFP in 2003.
See the short methodological paper (171,50 kB) on the study.

HCV prevalence and incidence study is coordinated by Czech Netional Focal Point. It has been carrying out since September 2002. Seroprevalence study was ended in December 2003. Since February 2003 seroincidence (follow-up) study on negative found clients has been started .

Monitoring and research is the core task of NFP. Basic principles, actors, activities, responsibilities of the Czech drug information system (DIS) are described in the National Plan on Drug Information System. Both NAPDIS 2003 -2004 (168,79 kB) and NAPDIS 2005 -2006 (167,46 kB) have been adopted by National Drug Commission.

Epidemiological indicators represent important fragments of information about drug situation in a defined population and/or area. Professionals and their institutions involved in collecting of appropriate data sometimes have a tendency to overestimate their “own” data and underestimate data of other institutions or data collected according to different methods. In the case of long-term duration of such unscientific approach, it necessarily makes the situation less clear and practically impossible to evaluate. In the course of 1990’s, European drug epidemiology defined “five harmonized indicators”. They represent a minimum set of data that allow for qualified assessment of the level and severity of drug use at the international, national, regional or local levels.