Recent Patterns of Addiction in Czechoslovakia

V. VONDRÁEK D.Sc.¹, J. PROKUPEK ², R. FISCHER ³, and M. AHRENBERGOVÁ ⁴

¹ Director of Psychiatric Clinic, Charles University, Prague 2, Ke Karlovu 11, Czechoslovakia
² Institute of Postgraduate Training, Prague 8, Bohnice, Czechoslovakia
³ Psychiatric Clinic, Charles University, Prague 2, Czechoslovakia
⁴ University Hospital, Prague 2, Czechoslovakia

The authors discuss the problems of addiction in Czechoslovakia. At the present time, the main problem is the abuse of phenmetrazine, as is shown by rising consumption of this drug. In the year, 1964, the consumption reached 19.4 mil. tbl., i.e. nearly 1.5 tablets per inhabitant per year. In the last year, the consumption of phenmetrazine fell, when medical workers were systematically informed about the dangers. The abuse of phenmetrazine is dangerous, as it causes toxic psychoses, either paranoid hallucinatory psychoses or of the manic syndrome. The abuse is especially frequent in medical and health workers, because these groups can easily obtain the drug. The experience of the Psychiatric Clinic in Prague shows that in recent years drug addictions are the reason for hospital admission in 3 per cent. of all admissions, of which 40 per cent. are phenmetrazine addictions.

The consumption of analgesic drugs is rising as well, particularly compound drugs with a high proportion of acetylsalicyclic acid. The consumption of hypnotic drugs is also rising, and the use of meprobamate reached its peak in 1963, since when it has decreased, though it is still used in suicidal attempts.

The number of drug addicts in psychiatric hospitals reached its peak in 1961, but we do not know why.

The authors also discuss the problems of terminology of addiction used in Czechoslovakia.