NCJ Number
161661
Date Published
1995
Length
16 pages
Annotation
After reviewing the drug problem in Czechoslovakia before 1989 (year of the change from socialism to democratic capitalism) and after 1989, this paper discusses current drug legislation, women's involvement in drug abuse, and drug prevention and treatment for women.
Abstract
Although there was some drug use before 1989, the government did not consider it sufficiently significant to warrant a large- scale government attack on the problem. After 1989, the government perceived drug abuse problems as socially significant, and the state bodies began addressing the issue. A new draft of antidrug policies and programs was produced by a commission and enacted by the government in September 1993. The illegal production, trade, possession, and distribution of drugs are regulated under the Criminal Act No. 175/1990 of the Statute Book and the Protection Against Alcoholism and Other Toxicomania Act No. 37/1989 Sb. of the Czech National Council. Virtually no reliable epidemiological data are currently available in the Czech Republic; consequently, the data that are available are incomplete, inaccurate, and contradictory on occasions. Published statistics on drug use have not distinguished between males and females, but the ratio has been presumed to be about 2:1 in favor of males, although drug use is believed to be equal between men and women in Prague. Alcohol and drug addicts are still treated in specialized alcoholism/drug addiction treatment departments of psychiatric facilities, both in hospitals and outpatient care. No drug treatment facility has specialized in problems specific to female abusers. Neither is there any prevention strategy that targets women. 8 tables