Problem gambling among Czech adolescents: An exploration of its relationship to early initiation of tobacco smoking

Background and aims: Gambling in adolescence is often related to licit and illicit substance use. Some evidence shows that teenage smokers gamble more than non-smokers. The aim of the study is to analyze the relationship between problem gambling and smoking among Czech adolescents. Methods: Data on 6,082 adolescents (50.1% boys and 49.9% girls) aged 15–19 years were collected a part of the ESPAD study in the Czech Republic in 2015. Logistic regression and linear regression models were used to test the hypothesis that the early onset of daily smoking increases the risk of problem gambling. Results: The age of initiation of daily smoking seems to be a more reliable marker of the risk of problem gambling than smoking status or intensity of smoking. More than 20% of smokers who started smoking daily at the age of 12 years or earlier are at risk of problem gambling, which shows a significantly increased probability compared to non-smokers (OR = 2.7). Other factors that increase the chances of becoming a problem gambler include being male, of higher age, and a student of a secondary school. Discussion and conclusions: The relationship between adolescent smoking and gambling is complex and is likely to be influenced by other underlying factors. Early daily smokers and at-risk gamblers tend in a similar way to risky behavior as a result of impulsivity. Interventions targeting early smoking and other substance-use behavior should not only aim at quitting smoking but could also include preventing smokers from developing problem gambling

The influence of social milieu on heroin use in autobiographies

Katedra sociologieDepartment of SociologyFakulta sociálních vědFaculty of Social Science

Sananim in Prague 5 - a Point of Conflict

The diploma thesis deals with the conflict that appeared after a drop-in centre for drug users was opened in the street Na Skalce in Prague 5 in April 2010. Local residents and politicians expressed their disapproval with the activities of the drop-in centre in the area that they defined as residential. The opposition based their arguments against drug services near recreational and educational facilities on the values of home, family, private property and perceived feeling of security. The primary conflict of local residents versus drug service providers was based on processes of ascribing negative characteristics to the group that was identified as unwanted in the community. Stigmatization and labelling of drug users were associated not only with drug users, but also with social workers who offer treatment and help to drug users. The data were collected from media messages and analysed by methods of the grounded theory

The influence of social milieu on heroin use in autobiographies

Katedra sociologieDepartment of SociologyFakulta sociálních vědFaculty of Social Science

Gambling in the Czech Republic: prevalence and consequences

This thesis is a quantitative research paper which analyses the prevalence and accessibility of gambling in the Czech Republic. The theoretical part defines gambling, deals with pathological gambling, its treatment and it impacts on the individual and their environment. It lists a basic review of Czech literature on this topic and pays attention to the legislative aspect. The practical part is split into descriptional statistics and correlation analysis. The descriptional statistics works with absolute and relative numbers of gaming clubs and casinos in districts and provinces of the Czech Republic and finds out which regions are more or less burdened with gambling. It shows that not only big cities are burdened with gambling but also smaller districts often near the state borders suffer from it. The correlation analysis studies the connection of the prevalence of gambling wit sociodemographic and economic indicators. This connection is apparent especially with unemployment, migration and family factors