Substance Use-Related Misdemeanours Dealt with by the Competent Authorities of the City of Liberec in 2017
Abstract
Background | Minor offences related to substance use can be classified as misdemeanours. In the Czech Republic, the data on this phenomenon is incomplete and has a low informative value, although the committing and punishing of misdemeanours can have relatively significant social and individual impacts.
AIMS | To determine the level of substance userelated misdemeanours and knowledge about specific misdemeanours committed in connection with substance use. METHODS | Data for the research was obtained from the administrative files kept by the Liberec Misdemeanour Department in 2017 and analysed using content analysis and descriptive statistics.
SAMPLE | A total of 2011 files were included, of which 479 concerned misdemeanours committed by women and 1,532 by men. The inclusion criterion was the commission of a misdemeanour in connection with an addictive substance by an individual above 15 years of age.
RESULTS | A total of 426 misdemeanours committed in connection with addictive substances were detected, which is one fifth of all the misdemeanours committed by individuals during the study period which the given department kept on file. Primary misdemeanours accounted for 20.42%, secondary ones for 79.58%.
Alcohol was the most common substance involved: it was responsible for 66.67% of the primary misdemeanours and for 94.10% of the secondary ones. CONCLUSIONS | The incidence of substance use-related misdemeanours is not negligible.
Since 1 July 2017, new legislation regulating offences, including their registration, has been in effect. However, not even this introduces a systematic collection of data about minor offences related to drugs.
In order to create preventive programmes or adopt legislative measures, it is appropriate to introduce a systematic approach to collecting data about substance use-related misdemeanours or conduct regular research.