|
|
Prevalence and patterns of kratom use in the Czech population and risk of loss of controlled use over time: cross-sectional questionnaire survey
Koktavá, Kristýna ; Mravčík, Viktor (advisor) ; Černíková, Tereza (referee)
Background: In recent years, the rate of kratom use has been increasing in the Czech Republic. It is a psychoactive substance of plant origin, the availability of which is not yet regulated by law in the Czech Republic, which causes easy availability even for minors. Different patterns of kratom use are described, and it is not clear to what extent problematic use or addiction develops. Objectives: The main objectives of this work were to map the use and effects of kratom use in the Czech population and to analyze the occurrence of different patterns of kratom use and whether, or to what extent, there is a loss of control during kratom use. Methods: A cross-sectional online questionnaire study was conducted. The research group consisted of persons older than 18 years living in the territory of the Czech Republic who have experience of using kratom, selected by non-probability sampling on social networks. Groups and forums bringing together people with experience with kratom were used for recruitment, and the snowball method was used, when some respondents shared the invitation further among their contacts. Results: 331 respondents completed the questionnaire. The research population consists of 259 respondents who reported using kratom at some point in their life, the majority of whom were men...
|
|
|
Substance use among seniors in Prague: questionnaire survey
Stříteský, Vít ; Vacek, Jaroslav (advisor) ; Mravčík, Viktor (referee)
Background: Substance use also occurs among the elderly and poses an increased risk of various health and social problems in this group. Currently, this specific group is somewhat neglected in addiction studies. In my opinion, seniors are a highly vulnerable group associated with the consumption of addictive substances, and this issue has not been extensively studied in the Czech Republic yet. Objectives: The main goal of this study is to determine which addictive substances are currently used by seniors in Prague and their prevalence. Secondary objectives include determining which sociodemographic and health characteristics affect substance use among seniors, the reasons they use these substances, and their awareness of addiction services. Methods: Given the focus of this study and its objectives, a quantitative approach was chosen for the research. Data was collected using a custom-designed electronic and printed questionnaire as the research tool. Results: The research indicates that seniors in Prague are frequent users of addictive substances. Coffee and alcohol are the most commonly used, followed by the use of medications (such as hypnotics, anxiolytics, and analgesics), cannabis products, and nicotine products. Only a small percentage of respondents reported using other addictive substances...
|
|
|
Availability and accessibility of alcohol and tobacco products on the internet for adolescents
Červenková, Nikola ; Mravčík, Viktor (advisor) ; Koutská, Kateřina Olga (referee)
Background: The Czech Republic has traditionally been perceived as a country with a relatively high availability of addictive substances for minors, which is also reflected in the results of control studies. The Internet is an important market environment and medium through which so called distance selling takes place. There are legal obligations to verify age in distance selling, but the extent and application of these obligations are not sufficiently described. Aim: The aim of this master's thesis was to find out how sellers of alcoholic beverages verify the age of shoppers and whether sellers of tobacco products etc. use a computer system that clearly verifies the age of the shopper. A sub-objective was to find out what the shipping options are when an order is placed and whether there is re-verification of the shopper's age when the goods are handed over. Methodology and material: The research set consisted of 30 online e-shops offering alcohol and 30 e-shops offering tobacco products. The selection was done in a regular internet environment, using search strings. The e-shops where control purchases were made were randomly selected from the list of analysed e-shops. Results: The research shows that alcohol and tobacco sellers do not sufficiently comply with all legal obligations. Only about...
|
|
|
Tobacco and nicotine use among people with mental disability
Leksová, Anna ; Mravčík, Viktor (advisor) ; Chomynová, Pavla (referee)
Background: Tobacco use is one of the most serious causes of diseases and death not only in the Czech Republic but worldwide. More than 8 million people worldwide die annually from tobacco use, of which more than 7 million deaths are due to direct tobacco use and 1.2 million deaths worldwide are due to indirect exposure to second-hand smoke. It is estimated that almost one in seven adults smoke tobacco every day. There are few studies that have investigated the use of tobacco products and other addictive substances among people with intellectual disabilities, yet it is known that mortality rates among people with intellectual disabilities tend to be much higher than in the general population. Moreover, the consequences of substance use for overall health and the social impact on this population are more harmful than for the general population. Aims: The aim of the bachelor thesis is to map the rates and patterns of tobacco and nicotine product use among people with mild, moderate or combined intellectual disabilities. The aim of the bachelor's thesis is to determine the prevalence of tobacco and nicotine product use in this population of people in our country, the rates and patterns of use, and to compare the observed phenomena according to selected sociodemographic factors. The results should...
|
|
|
Risk behaviour of people who inject drugs following treatment of hepatits C
Sedláková, Tereza ; Mravčík, Viktor (advisor) ; Janíková, Barbara (referee)
Background: In Czech Republic, 75-100 % of people newly diagnosed with hepatitis C type (VHC) are people who inject drugs (PWID). Currently, available treatment with direct-acting antiviral medicines without significant adverse side effects is fully covered by insurance. However, there is a risk of reinfection and insurance companies usually don't reimburse further treatment anymore. Aim: The aim of this study is to map and describe the development of risk behaviours in clients of low-threshold treatment programmes of the SEMIRAMIS and Laxus organisations (LSA partners) who have received treatment for hepatitis C. The research focuses on the circumstances of treatment, particularly barriers and supports to entry and the actual course of treatment. The sub-objectives are: to map the socio-economic situation of clients, to approximate patterns of use and to describe contacts with other services. In addition, to reveal the links between these factors and any changes in risk behaviour. Methods: Research was completed by metod of cross-sectional questionnaire surveys. The research sample consisted of 32 clients of LSA partners' low-threshold programs who had received at least one VHC treatment. The risk behaviours were monitored among following domains: a) injection use in general, b) unprotected...
|
|
|
Patterns of use and needs assessment of young adults using illicit drugs in Prague
Gažová, Nikola ; Mravčík, Viktor (advisor) ; Černíková, Tereza (referee)
Background: Understanding patterns of use and the needs of young adult users of illegal addictive substances presents a challenge primarily due to the hidden nature of this problem. Individuals engaging in problem drug use (PDU) may face severe health and social problems. Prague stands among regions with the highest prevalence of PDU, yet low-threshold addiction services note an aging trend among their clients. Establishing contact with this group has the potential to reduce consequences and encourage less risky usage patterns, while simultaneously facilitating entry into further addiction care services. Aim: The aim of the research was to analyze the needs of the young adult substance users in Prague, who fit the definition of PDU according to EMCDDA, with a focus on identifying patterns of usage and needs in relation to low-threshold addiction services. The research results were intended to serve as an initiative for improving the services provided. Methods: A study employing the Rapid Assessment and Response (RAR) method was conducted. The research sample was obtained through purposive sampling and comprised 6 young adults in PDU in Prague (3 in contact with services, 3 from the hidden population), along with 18 key informants (peer workers, experts from low-threshold and other social services,...
|
|
|
Individual, social and cultural factors shaping the use of amphetamine-type stimulants in Europe
Martens, Marcus-Sebastian ; Mravčík, Viktor (advisor) ; Radimecký, Josef (referee) ; Kachlík, Petr (referee)
Background: Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) encompass a varied assortment of substances that possess comparable pharmacological effects and stimulant characteristics. ATS display diversity in patterns of use among different substances and users' sociodemographic characteristics. The utilization of ATS is associated with both favorable and unfavourable outcomes. The biopsychosocial model of substance use provides a comprehensive framework for understanding ATS use. Aims: The primary objective of this study is to cultivate a thorough comprehension of the motivating factors driving individuals to initiate, cease, escalate, and/or curtail their ATS use. Material and methods: In a mixed methods approach, qualitative interviews were conducted to explore distinct groups of ATS users and one group of non-ATS users. These qualitative interviews then informed standardized quantitative computer-assisted personal interviews that utilized a range of (standard) instruments. The interviews were carried out in five European Union member states, and a minimum of five years had to elapse between the first usage of or exposure to ATS and the conducted interview. In the qualitative study arm, a total of 279 individuals were interviewed. Among them, 17% were identified as currently dependent on ATS, 20% were formerly...
|
|
|
Gambling in the Czech Republic: prevalence and consequences
Drbohlavová, Barbora ; Mravčík, Viktor (advisor) ; Vacek, Jaroslav (referee)
This thesis is a quantitative research paper which analyses the prevalence and accessibility of gambling in the Czech Republic. The theoretical part defines gambling, deals with pathological gambling, its treatment and it impacts on the individual and their environment. It lists a basic review of Czech literature on this topic and pays attention to the legislative aspect. The practical part is split into descriptional statistics and correlation analysis. The descriptional statistics works with absolute and relative numbers of gaming clubs and casinos in districts and provinces of the Czech Republic and finds out which regions are more or less burdened with gambling. It shows that not only big cities are burdened with gambling but also smaller districts often near the state borders suffer from it. The correlation analysis studies the connection of the prevalence of gambling wit sociodemographic and economic indicators. This connection is apparent especially with unemployment, migration and family factors.
|
|
|
Substance-use related psychiatric comorbidity among clients of aftercare programme
Horová, Eva ; Mravčík, Viktor (advisor) ; Koutská, Kateřina Olga (referee)
Background: Mental illness is a risk factor for the development of addiction, e.g. as a result of self-medication, and vice versa, addictive behavior can contribute to the development of mental illness. Disorders from the use of addictive substances concurrently with another mental disorder, the so-called "dual diagnosis", has a high prevalence among users of addictive substances. Clients with psychiatric comorbidity have a higher incidence of risky behavior or suicide and a higher need for services and care. Objective: The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity associated with the use of addictive substances in clients using the services of a aftercare center and to describe the factors that accompany its occurrence. Methods: A secondary analysis of data was performed from the provided anonymized database of clients actively using the services of the aftercare center as of March 1, 2023. In addition to the sociodemographic data of the clients, data on the use of addictive substances, the nature of the addiction disorder, the presence of disorders in the field of mental health and factors, were analyzed which could influence their occurrence and clinical severity in the client. Results: The research group consisted of 79 clients of the outpatient and...
|
|
|
Outcomes of take-home naloxone programme in Czechia after two years of operation
Lihtar, Štěpán ; Mravčík, Viktor (advisor) ; Janíková, Barbara (referee)
BACKGROUND: Opioid overdose represents significant public health burden in both the Czechia and the world in general. Although the prevalence in opioid use in our country is relatively low, it carries a disproportionate risk of health damage, including death from overdose. An effective intervention in the event of an opioid overdose is the administration of naloxone - an opioid antagonist that displaces the opioid from its receptors and interrupts the depression of the respiratory center. So-called take-home naloxone programs are based on the distribution of naloxone to lay people to administer naloxone when they witness an overdose. Take-home naloxone program was approved by the Czech Council of Government for the Coordination of Drug Policy in 2020, and its implementation began in April 2021. AIMS: The aim of this theses is to analyze the results of the take-home naloxone program in Czechia after two years of its operation. METHODS: The research part of this theses is based on a combination of two components - quantitative and qualitative. The data come from the Naloxone project reports and the Naloxone distribution project reports, which are filled by representatives of the programs involved in the project and then sent to the National Monitoring Center for Drugs and Addiction. The quantitative...
|
guest ::
