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Drugs in municipal wastewaters and their removal
Weberová, Kateřina ; Načeradská, Jana (advisor) ; Kopecká, Ivana (referee)
This research bachelor's thesis focuses on the occurence of illicit drugs in municipal wastewaters and their removal in wastewater treatment plants. The thesis focuses in detail on four psychoactive substances, which are tetrahydrocannabinol, MDMA, cocaine and methamphetamine, and their most commonly monitored metabolites. The work provides an overview of their presence in the aquatic environment and in wastewaters at the influent to wastewater treatment plants. In surface water, substances are found in concentrations up to hundreds of nanograms per liter. Concentrations of drugs at the influent to wastewater treatment plants normally range from tens to hundreds of nanograms per liter, with increased consumption reaching several thousand nanograms per liter. The thesis also focuses to efficiency of removal of selected psychoactive substances and their main metabolites during different stages of wastewater treatment. The findings indicate that the primary treatment is significant for tetrahydrocannabinol, less so for other substances. Tetrahydrocannabinol and its metabolites, in contrast to the other investigated substances, are lipophilic and their sorption occurs on the solid phase of wastewater. High concentrations of cannabinoids occur in sewage sludge, where they can persist in lower...
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Pergo/Pedro
Valchářová, Martina ; Malý, Břetislav (referee) ; Rathouský, Luděk (advisor)
The theme of my bachelor thesis is the issue of methamphetamine addiction and abuse in Czech Republic. The series is compiled of drawings that depict meth labs around my home town. Drawings should be mediated between the theme and gestural drawing.
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Methodology of investigating drug crimes with a focus on production of methamphetamine
Vávra, Vojtěch ; Beranová, Andrea (referee)
Methodology of investigating drug crimes with a focus on production of methamphetamine Abstract This thesis deals with methodology of investigating drug crimes with a focus on production of methamphetamine. Considering the complexity of the mentioned topic, it takes into account substantive and procedural criminal law, criminalistics, criminology and addictology. In the first chapter, in addition to describing the forms, effects and methods of methamphetamine production, with an emphasis on the Czech way of methamphetamine production, the historical genesis of the problem is also presented. The second chapter defines the terms small-scale production, medium-level production and large-scale production in order to increase legal certainty. The thesis draws inspiration from the current methodology of the National Drug Headquarters and the United Nations. This part of thesis also includes a statistical section dealing with the structure of drug crime in terms of prosecutions and seized clandestine laboratories. The third chapter describes a typical drug offender. The offenders are divided according to their level of professionalism into three groups: amateur, semi-professional and professional. This paper also discusses individual roles in an organized group, which it classifies as mandatory and optional in...
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Public attitudes towards substance use and drug addiction - April/May 2023
Spurný, Martin
In a survey conducted during April and May 2023, the The Public Opinion Research Centre (CVVM) asked a set of questions about public attitudes towards substance use. Respondents over the age of 15 rated the extent to which they considered it acceptable to consume certain addictive substances, specifically tobacco, alcohol, painkillers, sleeping or tranquillisers, cannabis drugs (e.g. marijuana, hashish) and drugs such as ecstasy, methamphetamine and heroin. They commented on selected statements about the problem of drug addiction, whether drug use is a problem in the Czech Republic as a whole or in their place of residence, and whether the relevant institutions in the Czech Republic deal adequately with the problem of drug use.
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The effect of methamphetamine on the neuroimmune system
Petrášová, Blanka ; Hejnová, Lucie (advisor) ; Lapka, Marek (referee)
Metamphetamine is worldwide problem and in the Czech republic is 2-3 % of people older than 15 years exposed to it. There are 34,7 thousand long-term users in Czech republic and 19 methamphetamine-related deaths in 2022. The impact on the neuroimmune system has only started to be studied in recent years. Understanding its effect on the neuroimmune system may outline new treatment options, as there is no cure for methamphetamine addiction to date. This paper summarizes its effects on the different components of the neuroimmune system and outlines some substances that could be used in treatment. Key words: methamphetamine, neuroimmune system, inflammation, microglia, astrocytes
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The function of methamphetamine in the life of a user diagnosed with ADHD in connection with the self-medication theory of substnce use
Hofmannová, Zuzana ; Minařík, Jakub (advisor) ; Minařík, Gabriela (referee)
Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increases the risk of substance abuse. Within the ADHD self-medication theory, people with ADHD choose stimulants to compensate for unpleasant conditions and relieve and suppress ADHD symptoms such as excessive hyperactivity, inattention, and emotional lability. Objectives: The aim of the research was to describe the context of the use of methamphetamine in the user career of persons diagnosed with ADHD, focusing on the reasons for using methamphetamine and the benefits of this group within the framework of the self-medication theory of the use of addictive substances aimed at the prevention, and treatment of addiction disorders. Methods: The research was conducted qualitatively through semi-structured interviews. Open-ended interviews, axial coding and pattern capture were used to analyze the data. The sample consisted of 6 individuals purposively selected from the Clinic of Addiction Medicine in Prague. Results: The results show that methamphetamine was often used for reasons that help the user to function normally, increase productivity and concentration, higher self-esteem, and suppress negative emotions. Positive changes in the intensity of ADHD symptoms were noted over time and especially after methamphetamine use. Changes for the...
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Investigation of the involvement of central ghrelin signalling in methamphetamine dependence using behavioural and molecular methods
Lapka, Marek ; Šustková, Magdaléna (advisor) ; Votava, Martin (referee) ; Amchová, Petra (referee)
v anglickém jazyce Interest in appetite-inducing peptide hormones, such as ghrelin, is gradually increasing. There is a growing number of publications dealing with the involvement of this orexigenic peptide in the mechanisms of obesity and various addictive behaviours, not excluding addiction to stimulant substances including methamphetamine. Central ghrelin signaling appears to play an important role in addictive behavior, and in the processing of memory traces. Recently, antagonism of the ghrelin receptor for growth hormone secretion (GHS-R1A) has been proposed as a promising tool for the still unsatisfactory treatment of methamphetamine addiction. Premedication with a commonly used experimental GHS-R1A antagonist, the triazole derivative, JMV2959, significantly reduced the rewarding and reinforcing effects of methamphetamine in several animal models of addiction. However, the molecular aspects of GHS-R1A involvement in specific brain regions related to the addiction process remain unclear. This work demonstrates that acute and subchronic (4 days) administration of JMV2959 alone, at doses significantly effective in addiction models (1 and 3 mg/kg intraperitoneally), had no effect on memory functions tested in the Morris water maze in rats, as well as no significant effects on molecular markers...
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Methodology of investigating drug crimes with a focus on production of methamphetamine
Vávra, Vojtěch ; Dvořák, Marek (advisor) ; Šelleng, Dalibor (referee)
Methodology of investigating drug crimes with a focus on production of methamphetamine Abstract This thesis deals with methodology of investigating drug crimes with a focus on production of methamphetamine. Considering the complexity of the mentioned topic, it takes into account substantive and procedural criminal law, criminalistics, criminology and addictology. In the first chapter, in addition to describing the forms, effects and methods of methamphetamine production, with an emphasis on the Czech way of methamphetamine production, the historical genesis of the problem is also presented. The second chapter defines the terms small-scale production, medium-level production and large-scale production in order to increase legal certainty. The thesis draws inspiration from the current methodology of the National Drug Headquarters and the United Nations. This part of thesis also includes a statistical section dealing with the structure of drug crime in terms of prosecutions and seized clandestine laboratories. The third chapter describes a typical drug offender. The offenders are divided according to their level of professionalism into three groups: amateur, semi-professional and professional. This paper also discusses individual roles in an organized group, which it classifies as mandatory and optional in...
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Paternal methamphetamine exposure - effect on the development of offspring
Mihalčíková, Lýdia ; Šlamberová, Romana (advisor) ; Cendelín, Jan (referee) ; Riljak, Vladimír (referee)
Introduction: Drug addiction and its effect on the behavior and development of children has become a serious problem in our society. Methamphetamine (MA) is one of the most abused psychostimulants in the Czech Republic, and its abuse is rising worldwide. Previous studies have demonstrated the adverse long-term effects of maternal drug abuse on rat offspring. However, the father's contribution as a parent and donor of half the genetic information is unclear. Aim: First, the present study aimed to examine the effect of MA administration on male sexual behavior, locomotor activity, spermatogenesis, and testosterone level. Second, the impact of paternal MA exposure on behavioral development, locomotor activity, and social interaction in rat offspring was examined. Methods: MA was administrated for 30 days at a dose of 5 mg/kg s.c. to adult male rats (PD 90). The control group was exposed to saline (SA). During the experiments, 6-8 individuals from each group were tested. The sensorimotor development of rat pups was examined during PD 1-23. The Social play experiment was conducted with juvenile rats (PD 30). The sexual behavior, spermatogenesis, and locomotor activity of fathers and offspring were tested in adulthood. Prior to testing, adult offspring were exposed to an acute challenge dose of MA (1...
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Social Exclusion as a Determinant of Health in Pervitin Users
BRANDOVÁ, Nikola
The subject of my dissertation thesis is social exclusion of Pervitin users within the territory of České Budějovice and the therewith associated quality of their lives, which currently make a topical item. Though social exclusion can be seen as a frequent academical, political as well as public subject of discussion and the poor living conditions of those concerned are an issue brought to attention, no qualitative research into the social exclusion of this target group in our conditions has been made as yet. The theoretical section of my thesis describes current state of knowledge concerning the topics of social determinants of health, social exclusion, Pervitin (Methamphetamine), illegal use of drugs and therewith associated care for persons who abuse drugs and the quality of their lives, as well as the research on these topics. The following objectives were set for the research part of my dissertation thesis: 1) Identification of the effects of social exclusion on the health of Pervitin users in České Budějovice. 2) Description of the quality of life of Pervitin users in České Budějovice. For the purposes of my study, a combination of qualitative and quantitative research strategies was selected. Three research questions were set. These questions in the qualitative section deal with how social exclusion affects the health status of Pervitin users living in České Budějovice and how the users themselves reflect on the actual determinant of health. The quantitative section of my thesis poses a question how selected sociodemographic characteristics by WHOQOL-BREF relate to the domains of qualities of life. The research group for the qualitative research section consisted of users of Pervitin living in České Budějovice. There were 15 informants in total. The contingent valuation method was used to collect attributes data and the technique used was a combination of biographic-narrative and semi-structured interviews. Data acquired was analyzed using the grounded theory method with the Atlas.ti. software used to analyze the attributes data Quantitative data was collected through a questionnaire survey performed by distributing a standardized WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire to a representative sample consisting of 437 respondents, all users of Pervitin in the South-Bohemian Region. Data of quantitative nature were transposed from completed questionnaires to a data matrix and subsequently processed statistically. Descriptive statistics were performed in MS Excel and hypotheses were tested using the IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 24.0. Informants' responses were encoded and categorized, resulting in two models describing the process how Pervitin users access health care and the phenomena of the actual use within the context of the society. As a result of the WHOQL-BREF questionnaire, in the physical and mental health and social relations domain, relationship with the other sex appeared to be statistically relevant, where women showed significantly worse scores than men. Another statistically relevant relationship was confirmed between how long the drug abuse has been lasting and the physical and mental health of the user. The quality of life in these domains becomes lower proportionately with the length of Pervitin use. The dissertation thesis provides an insight into the issue of social exclusion of Pervitin users. Considering the size of the research group, the results cannot be generalized but can serve as a base for social workers aiming at Pervitin users at all levels, ranging from contact centres and field programs and addiction clinics to therapy communities and convalescent centres.
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