Abuse of psychoactive substances in the Czech Republic on the basis of data from the Toxicological Information Centre over 2008 - 2018 period
Abstract
The abuse of psychoactive substances presents a serious social problem. The Toxicological Information Centre (TIC) in Prague, the only centre of its kind in the Czech Republic, is an important source of information on the cases of psychoactive substances abuse.
In this retrospective study we analysed the cases of non-medical use and abuse of psychoactive substances consulted with TIC over 2008 - 2018 period. The most frequently abused group of substances were pharmaceuticals benzodiazepines.
The prevalence of cases of abuse in males was higher than in females and the age group from 19 to 35 years was responsible for the most part of cases. The highest number of consultations was provided for callers from Prague.
The rising trend in the number of cases was registered in the group of psychostimulants. The efficacy of legislative measures was demonstrated in the case of dextrometorphan abuse, where the number of cases consulted with TIC decreased to zero after re-qualifing this pharmaceutical as a "prescription-only" one.