Academic education in addictology (addiction science) in the Czech Republic: Analysis of the (pre-1989) historical origins

Abstract

BACKGROUND -In the Czech Republic, education in addiction science consists of a distinctive and interconnected system of non-medical healthcare education on the Bachelor's (Bc) and Master's (MA) levels, followed by a doctoral study programme (PhD). Addictology (addiction science) as a new term is defined as a distinct and independent field of scientific inquiry on addictive behaviours and the risk environment of substance use, aiming at scientific and professional excellence relevant to society. AIMS -This case study seeks to identify, describe and explain important events in shaping the historical context of the Czech education and research programmes in addictology. DESIGN -The historical review is based on qualitative content analysis of central written documents. RESULTS -In the 19th century Czech territory, problematic alcohol use was addressed through self-help activities in the second half of the nineteenth century. During the 1950s and 1960s, a new generation of Czech psychiatrists emerged with an interest in alcohol treatment and in research of hallucinogenic drugs. A patient education bulletin Apolinářský zápisník [Apolinar Diary] was launched in 1951 and was later also used for education of treatment professionals in connection with other self-help and quasi-self-help activities. The monographs Alkoholism (1957) and Toxicomany (1973) conceptualised the core of abstinence-oriented historical traditions and developments. A separation of approaches to legal and illegal drugs can be observed in the 1970s. In 1967, a new and intensive training model was introduced for psychiatrists and psychotherapists, leading into specialisation in psychotherapy and addiction. Because of the Iron Curtain, Czech practitioners had to develop their own concept of addiction and ideas on training psychotherapists so they could not be labelled western or anti-state, or be subject to intense state control. CONCLUSIONS -The final profile of the study programmes is the outcome of a long-term process that commenced in the 1950s but with roots in the interwar years, when addictology in the Czech Republic reflected traditional healthcare-oriented models of training and education. In this context the historical development in Czecholovakia and later Czech Relpublic can be characterized as a combination of early interest in self-help activities followed by the development of specialized treatment programmes both affected by a futher 40 years behind the "iron curtain" and intensively confrontated with harm and risk reducation interventions after the Velvet revolution.

Shake ‘N Bake: the Migration of ‘Pervitin’ to Ireland

“…Similar to extant literature in their originating country, 'Pervitin' is prepared by small, close knit groups of users, in this instance not injecting drug users, and revolving around the 'cook' (Grund 2005;Miovský 2007;Van Hout 2014;). Home-made labs represent atypical risk environments (Rhodes, 2009;Miovský et al 2015) with synthesis taking place in primitive settings, with substandard equipment and ingredients ). Equally concerning are the risks of contamination, absence of correct protocols and purification methods, and highly toxic reactants (Alves et al 2015;Caldicott et al 2005;Grund et al 2013;Martyny et al 2007;Ning Chiu et al 2011;).…”

National Addiction-specific Institutional Infrastructure - fundamental prerequisite for successful implementation of specialized academic degree study programmes: a case study in historical perspective

“…For this process we used very simple analytical tools based on creating categories and a comparative process inspired by Miles and Huberman (10) and qualitative content analysis (11). The project was closely linked to our former work on historical analysis of origins that contributed to the modern concept of addiction studies, created and systematically developed in Prague (3,12).…”

“…In the past, the addiction specialization has been supported by advances in clinical practice, and a significant amount of research conducted by the dominant disciplines of neurology, psychiatry, psychology, and social work. On the other hand, it is possible to find some of the first original concepts and definitions of addiction as a freestanding, unique, and independent field based on interdisciplinary approaches from the mental health and public health fields (2,3). This process of developing a distinctive and independent infrastructure to support academic training in addiction studies has been described by Babor et al (1), and involves considerable maturation beyond the origins of addiction services that emerged from historical self-help initiatives and public awareness initiatives.…”

Incorporation of Universal Prevention Curriculum into established academic degree study programme: qualitative process evaluation

“…The Prague comprehensive model of addiction studies was built on a generic view of the addiction specialist as a professional who is competent and ready to work in the prevention sphere as well as in treatment or other addiction service systems (15). The original idea, development, and the process of establishing an academic degree study programme specialising in addiction has been published elsewhere (13,14). During the period 2002-2004, the core concept of the bachelor's (BA) study programme (in addictology) and the national accreditation were developed.…”

“…This gave rise to a working tool (standard) which can be used to test professional qualifications needed for prevention work, irrespective of one's original professional background (education, psychology, medicine, etc.). The development and the nationwide implementation of the quality standards in prevention was closely related and aligned with the development of the university addiction training curriculum, which later became known as the Prague comprehensive model of addiction studies (13,14).…”