„ Roma and Drugs in Figures –
the Czech Republic“
Budapest, 29-30 October 2004
Czech National Focal Point for Drugs and Drug Addiction
Office of the Government of the Czech Rep.tel. +420296153222fax +420296153264
Pavla Lejckova
Content
Roma population in the Czech Republic
Drug use among Roma Roma population surveys Pattern of drug use among Roma HCV seroprevalence study Roma and treatment Gravity of drug problem in Roma communities
Roma Population in the CR evidence of Roma population?
11 746 Roma in the CR in 2001 according to Census – based on their own declaration
32 903 according to 1991 Census 145 738 according to municipal authorities in 1989 estimate: 160 – 200 thousand (based on demographic projections)
no evidence of Roma population civic approach: equal approach to individual with no regard to
nationality or ethnicity protection of personal data (nationality/ethnicity = personal information) fear of accusation of discrimination
demographic and social characteristics high fertility, higher number of children in families, less favourable
health status (influenced by extent of smoking and alcohol) lower level of education, low qualification, high level of unemployment
(long-term, social support), low quality of housing
Roma Population Surveys Roma Out-Reach and Battery Project, 2003 - 2004
NGO project focusing on extent and pattern of drug use in Roma population with the help of Roma out-reach workers
2003: research model proposed, pilot testing, focus groups 2004: research realization
Specifics of Roma Drug Users Compared to Majority Population Users, 2002 - 2003 NGO in Prague non-standardized questionnaire in low-threshold centre sample: 30 Roma respondents (29 aged 15 – 25, 1 older), 30 non-
Roma respondents (24 aged 15 – 25, 6 older) questions on drug used, frequency, age at first use, route of
administration, needle sharing, treatment Out-Reach Programme in Socially Excluded Roma Communities, 1999 -
Council of the Government for Roma Community Affairs situation analysis in Roma communities: assessment of
unemployment, housing, truancy, illiteracy, criminality, prostitution, gambling, drug use – in the beginning and at the end of year
81 Roma communities observed, gravity of the problem assessed
Prevalence of Drug Use among Roma Roma and Drugs, 2004 (school survey realized by A Kluby Society in Brno) 200 respondents (aged 12 – 16); 96 students of Roma community schools drugs = tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs
Prevalence of drug use First drug used
age at first drug use: non-Roma 88 % at the age of 12 and older
Roma 53 % at the age of 11 and younger
33 34 3237
12
36
52 55
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
never only once severaltimes
regular use
non-Roma
Roma56
41
2,5
65
32
3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
cigarettes alcohol marijuana
non-Roma
Roma
Pattern of Drug Use among Roma Specifics of Roma Drug Users in Comparison to Majority Population Users,
2002 - 2003 30 Roma and 30 non-Roma low-threshold centre/out-reach programme
clients
Primary drug Roma population:
- 63 % combine heroin and pervitin
- all combine main drug with inhalants and
sedatives
- 43 % use daily
Treatment Low-threshold centre
- Roma 30 % vs. 73 % non-Roma
Roma non-Roma
Heroin 87 % 50 %
Subutex - 43 %
Pervitin 13 % 7 %
Roma non-Roma
Voluntary 34 % 56 %
Involuntary 13 % 16 %
Never 47 % 28 %
HCV Seroprevalence Study 1 HCV Seroprevalence Study, NMC September 2002 – December 2003 multi-site cross-sectional study 12 centres involved: low-threshold incl. out-reach programmes
study goals identify prevalence of HCV antibodies (seroprevalence) among injecting
drug users identify predictive factors influencing the prevalence evaluate level of knowledge on hepatitis C and the methods of prevention
applied among injection drug users identify sources of instruments for injecting and attitudes to the acquisition
of clean instruments and identify factors influencing these practices
760 clients tested, 226 HCV positive results = 29.7 %
HCV Seroprevalence Study 2 main findings by ethnic groups
Roma: younger with shorter period of drug injecting higher M/F ratio (3:1) than in the major population (2:1) higher frequency of opiates as main drug than in major population
(36% vs. 27%) higher frequency of drug injecting than in major population lower knowledge and information about drug-related infectious diseases,
risk factors, harm reduction measures (e.g. testing) no significant differences in:
sharing of needles imprisonment (Roma slightly more frequently) sex for money or drugs
# % # of positive results
%
Czech 651 86.0 195 30.0
Roma 92 12.2 24 26.1
Others 14 1.9 6 42.9
Total 757 100.0 225 29.7
Roma and Treatment insufficient data in general according to treatment demand register:
2000: 60 Roma clients out of 9 237 all treatment demands 2002: 54 Roma clients out of 4 148 first treatment demands (1.3 %)
substitution treatment is the only attractive modality for Roma community (high ratio of Roma clients in substitution centres esp. in Usti nad Labem, Ostrava, Brno)
exchange programmes are acceptable low number in contact with low-threshold centres very low interest for psychotherapy
Drug Problem in Roma Communities Out-Reach Programme in Socially Excluded Roma Communities, since
1999 (data for 2003) 81 Roma communities observed, gravity of problems assessed
Prevalence of drugs in communities
substantial problem in 11 communities (13.6 %) correlation with the extent of gambling (59),
prostitution (28), criminality (67), usury (35), low education
# % of all communities
% communities with reported drug use
Any illicit drug 56 69.1
Marijuana 45 55.6 80.4
Ecstasy 6 7.4 10.7
Pervitin 29 35.8 51.8
Heroin 8 9.9 14.3
Inhalants 44 54.3 78.6
Sedatives 22 27.2 39.3
18%
42%
11% 4%25%
1 2 3 4 5
Thank you for your attention Contact:
Czech National Focal Point for Drugs and Drug Addiction
National Drug Commission
Office of the Government of the Czech Republic
Nabrezi Edvarda Benese 4
118 01 Prague 1
Pavla Lejckova
tel: +420 296 153 349