„ 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

lejckova.pavla@vlada.cz