Addictions

What are the symptoms?

• Strong desire to use the substance.
• Losing control over the use.
• Drug withdrawal symptoms might join in with physical and psychological symptoms.
• Psychological: anxiety, nervousness, sleep disorders, trouble concentrating or depressive mood.
• Physical: shaking, sweating, increased heart rate, stomach ache, headache or joint pain.
• Unpleasant feelings and irritation come when the substance or habit is withheld from the addicted person.
• One’s regular interests and pleasures might get limited gradually.
• The addict continues the abuse despite the harmful and apparent effects.

The most common addictions

Alcohol

Alcoholism is the most widespread and severe addiction. More than 1.5 million Czechs engage in high-risk drinking levels, and over half a million are negatively affected. Alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver and cardiovascular diseases and might contribute to several types of cancer. High-risk drinking precedes addiction which has the potential to damage the system, and harmful drinking already damages it – despite the obsession being asymptomatic.

Nicotine

Around 2 million Czechs smoke, and 250 thousand of them are minors. The addiction develops over days or weeks to a substance called nicotine. Smoking regular cigarettes and using e-cigarettes increases the risk of having a heart attack, causes immunodeficiency and is the most frequent cause of impotence among middle-aged men. One cigarette contains over 5.000 harmful substances, and 60 of these are carcinogenic. These chemical substances damage the vascular and respiratory systems and cause lung cancer. Not even e-cigarettes solve this problem despite them being seen as a healthier alternative. Smokers can prevent up to 16 types of cancer by quitting, significantly decreasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, and, last but not least, save money. The success rate of quitting smoking with professional help by using supplements or medication is around 30%. 

Digital drugs

So-called internet addiction disorder is a new condition among psychiatric diagnoses and was defined first in 2000. An estimated 4% of Czechs between the ages of 16–29 suffer from this disorder. Addictive gaming, online shopping, gambling, or streaming are the most frequent forms of this addiction – overusing social media, dating platforms or watching too much pornography counts as well. Things get complicated when there’s no control over online time, like staying up all night online and waking up early. Trouble concentrating, irregular eating habits or feeling empty whenever one isn’t behind the screen might join in. There's an increase in nervousness, which might disrupt relationships with friends and family members. It might even affect physical health when the stress and sedentary lifestyle increase the risk of cardiovascular disease along with sight, spine and wrist damage.

Drug abuse

Drug abuse, or substance dependence, is relatively common – more than 270 million people worldwide, 50 thousand in the Czech Republic. 

The most abused drugs are heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, LSD or cannabis. A frequent motive for addiction development is curiosity, which can overgrow from using only on the weekend to an everyday necessity. Cannabis is the most used illegal drug in the Czech Republic, and more than a quarter of adults try it at least once in a lifetime. Smoking cannabis might cause nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, increased heart rate and hallucinations, lousy coordination and trouble thinking clearly. Long-term abuse might damage the brain, especially in teenagers. Weed smokers expose themselves to the same risk factors as regular cigarette smokers – respiratory diseases and cancer. 

How to prevent addictions

• If something’s bothering you and you feel helpless, find professional help.
• Surround yourself with people who support you
• Choose your friends carefully
• See the impact of addictions on health and interpersonal relationships
• Improve your skills at school or work
• Find a hobby
• Avoid the temptation at a young age
• Join programmes fighting against addictions

FAQ