Monitoring the Spectrum of Addictive Substances in Drug-addicts

Hana Klusoňová¹ (klusono@faf.cuni.cz), Lenka Spáčilová¹, Dana Hurtová¹, Peter Višňovský²

¹ Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, ² Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

Summary

Misuse of illegal addictive substances gets ever more common in our population. A study monitoring the spectrum of such substances takes place at two regional contact centers – KC Laxus in Hradec Králové since June 2003 and KC Haus in Zlín since June 2002. 119 clients filled out a questionnaire, 45 from Laxus and 74 from the Contact Center Haus. Three quarters of the persons using addictive substances in Hradec Králové region are men aged 16 – 40 years. They use most often pervitin (63.4 %) and heroin (19.5 %); Cannabis drugs are those which most frequently play a role of substitutive drugs (46.3 %). Only 3 clients completed a therapy of symptoms resulting from drug misuse. 34.2 % of respondents were treated or are currently treated. As in Hradec region there are the persons of 16 – 36 years, mainly the men (almost ¾), who misuse the drugs in Zlín region. The principal additive drug is pervitin (87.1 %). Almost ½ of the addicts (48.1 %) use cannabis drugs as a substitution. ¼ (24.7 %) of them use ecstasy for the same reason. ¼ of the respondents (28.3 %) mentioned a symptomatic therapy of drug misuse, 27.0 % reported previous or current drug addiction therapy. The study leads to the conclusion about developing situation on our drug scene which is different at individual regions. Continuing observation seems to be advisable.