Reduction of Risks Associated with Addictive Behaviour through Innovative and Evidence-Based Solutions

News

AddictCZSK BA Nov24 vyb-05

Addiction Regulation Must Stand on Two Pillars

Alcohol, tobacco, gambling, sugar, social media, video games, or methamphetamine. Experts discussed various addictions and methods of their prevention, regulation, and treatment at the international conference AddictCZSK, held under the…

about harm reduction & harm reduction academy

Harm reduction is a pragmatic approach based on scientific evidence and practical real-world experience. In the area of public public health, it aims at minimizing the negative health, social, and economic impacts of addictive behaviour.

Harm reduction involves strategies and policies that reduce the risks associated with substance use and help individuals achieve safer and healthier outcomes.

Harm Reduction Academy (HRA) aims to bring together addiction experts from different European countries. HRA focuses on prevention, education, and awareness raising about the latest trends in the area of addiction and mental health. We also aim to gather new insights and data via our own research.

Addictions in the Czech Republic

1_drinking

1 million

Almost 10 % of Czech adults consume alcohol daily.
2_smoking

30%

30% of Czech smokers try to quit smoking every year.
3_gambling

250 000

Nearly quarter millions of Czech adults are at risk of developing problems with gambling. 
4_socials

4 hours

Around 25-30% of Czech kids and 45-50% of Czech adults spend 4 hours and more at social media a day.
5_drugs

25%

More than a quarter of Czech adult population has tried an illicit substance.
6_sedatives

1 million

More than 1 million of Czech adults use hypnotics and sedatives problematically.

about harm reduction

JUDr. Tereza Dleštíková, Ph.D.

Drug users are provided with harm reduction services and supplies, including methadone substitution and needle exchange programs, offered both at dedicated centers and by outreach social workers delivering assistance directly in areas where it is needed.

PhDr. Miroslav Barták, Ph.D.

Addiction is a treatable illness, and when discussing treatment options, there are approaches focused on abstinence-based treatment as well as controlled drinking, which does not aim for lifelong abstinence.

PhDr. Lenka Vavrinčíková, Ph.D

The combination of alcohol’s high potential for harm and its widespread use suggests that applying the harm reduction approach to alcohol is particularly desirable.

Mgr. Barbara Janíková, DiS.

For drug users, harm reduction should include the provision of reliable information and counseling on pharmacology, prevention, and sexually transmitted diseases, vaccination programs against hepatitis A and B, as well as social assistance for the children of dependent individuals.

Prof. MUDr. Eva Králíková, CSc.

Harm reduction means regulating according to thr harm of the products. People should switch from cigarettes to less harmful alternatives. This approach is increasingly adopted worldwide.

Mgr. Jindřich Vobořil, Pg.Dip.

Harm Reduction means reducing garm instead of pursuing the unrealistic goal of total abstinence. For example, in Sweden where smokers switched to snug, there was a significant drop in heart attacks. This approach is more effective than an outright ban.

Doc. MUDr. Viktor Mravčík, Ph.D.

The harm reduction approach is also applicable to occasional users of addictive substances, as well as to smoking and alcohol use. This includes measures such as needle and syringe exchange programs to prevent the transmission of infections like HIV and hepatitis, overdose prevention programs, and substitution treatment.

Contact us

We are here for you