A concerning trend is emerging in the Czech Republic, where hundreds of thousands of individuals, predominantly women, are reported to be consuming medication in excess without observable improvement. The misuse of painkillers and sedatives is notably high among this demographic, with the worrisome inclusion of school students seeking mood alteration through these drugs. Experts are sounding the alarm against the perilous combination of medications with alcohol, as well as the acquisition of drugs through unofficial channels and online platforms.

Petr Popov, Head of the Clinic of Addictology at the General Faculty Hospital, highlighted the disturbing rise in drug abuse and addiction-related issues during a recent interview. The misuse or abuse of psychoactive drugs is estimated to affect approximately 740,000 to 1.2 million people over the age of 15 in the Czech Republic, as revealed by this year’s Report on Problematic Use of Psychoactive Drugs.

The issue is particularly acute among older women, who are frequently resorting to pain-suppressing drugs. Popov noted that women, having a lower pain threshold than men, often turn to analgesics and various sedatives, even for relatively mild discomfort such as headaches, contributing to the problem at hand.

Inappropriate medication usage is characterized by the excessive consumption of drugs in contradiction to a doctor’s recommendations. The report underscores concerns about the acquisition of sedatives, hypnotics, and opioid analgesics, which are not always prescribed and are frequently obtained through informal channels.

Of particular concern is the experimentation by schoolchildren, who are gaining access to sleep medications or painkillers without medical supervision. Some of these young individuals are compounding the issue by combining these medications with alcohol, a risky practice that can lead to severe consequences, including heart failure in extreme cases. The situation appears to vary across different types of schools, with vocational high schools showing the highest proportion of teenagers experimenting with sedatives and painkillers. As the gravity of the situation becomes increasingly apparent, there is a growing call for comprehensive interventions and educational initiatives to address the root causes and consequences of this alarming trend.

Article by Prague Forum