Czech government cuts drug policy funding by CZK 100 million, experts warn of risks

Funding for the Czech Republic’s drug policy programme is set to total CZK 315 million this year from the Government Office budget, CZK 100 million less than the amount sought by the former administration and less than the final allocation provided last year.

Addiction specialists say the cuts could jeopardize essential services and run counter to the country’s needs. According to them, the public interest would be better served by a substantial increase in funding. The governing coalition is expected to continue negotiations on the matter.

The report on illicit drugs in the Czech Republic, published annually by the National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addiction, states that between 90,000 and 100,000 people seek professional help for drug-related problems each year.