Introduction:

As a police officer, I am very interested in drug issues. That is actually the reason why
I chose this topic for my bachelor’s thesis. Unfortunately, hectic life and easy accessibility
help to the frequent use of addictive substances. The biggest problem with the easy
availability of drugs is that they are also among children. Unfortunately, kids are trying drugs
from a young age and we need to fight this.

What is a drug, anyway? This term covers a lot but most often people imagine
something forbidden. There are legal consequences for growing, producing and distributing
drugs. It is also a substance that has a psychotropic effect on a person's psyche. Drug use can
lead to addiction.

Drugs can be separated into natural, synthetic, soft, hard, lower health risk or higher
health risk. The final differentiation between drugs with lower or higher health risks
determines if the drug is classified as legal or illegal.

The main legal drugs include alcohol and tobacco products, and possibly medicines.
These addictive substances are tolerated by society even though they are just as dangerous
and can be just as addictive as illegal substances. The sale of these substances is often
restricted by law. Most often the buyer must be over 18 years of age (alcohol and tobacco).
Medication must be prescribed by a doctor, for example. Society does not tolerate illegal
drugs. Growing, possessing, producing and selling are illegal. For example: marijuana,
hashish, heroin, meth, cocaine.

In the Czech Republic, the law does not prohibit the application of the drug. The law
system regulates the growing, production, distribution, sale and possession of narcotic drugs
and psychotropic substances. Some of these activities are treated as a crime and some as a
offence. In general, possession and growing of small quantities of a psychotropic substance
for personal use is considered as an offence. However, possession of large quantities of
psychotropic substances is considered a crime, as is the production or distribution.
 Drugs are not only a problem in today's society. The history of drugs is related to the
history of humans. The first records of psychotropic substances are from BC. One of the
oldest drugs is cannabis. The first records of cannabis go back five thousand years in Chinese
medicine. Opium from the poppy had a similar importance in history. In the 19th century,
scientists initially extracted active ingredients from natural substances. For example,
morphine, caffeine, nicotine and cocaine. Cocaine has been found in various drinks and has
been described as safe.

Drug dependency is defined as a psychological and sometimes physical condition

characterised by behavioural changes and other reactions. These include the need to use the
drug repeatedly for its psychological effects but also to avoid unpleasant psychological states
in the absence of the drug.

Health problems are also related to the direct application of the drug. Other problems are
social. Other problems are social in nature. These are not related to the direct use of the
drug. These are as a result of the addict's behavior in his surroundings. Dependency often
leads to family disconnection, loss of jobs or school, loss of friends and can progress through
homelessness to crime. „The fun“ that was a weekend affair is starting to grow up. A person
also needs the drug during the week. A student stops going to school because he needs time
and money to get another dose. In the beginning he gets money by selling his personal
property. in the beginning, Then he steals from his parents or other family members. But it is
not a long way from this to shoplifting or other crime. Drinking alcohol or using other
narcotic and psychotropic substances is often associated with illegal activity. Persons under
the influence of addictive substances commit violent crime more often. It's not just stealing,
robbery or criminal damage to the person, but also traffic accidents are often related to
drugs. Even small amounts of the drug can reduce attention, concentration or cognition of
the surroundings. As described many crimes are property related because drug users have
no money. Lack of money to buy drugs is a daily problem for the addicted person. For such a
person, focusing on cash is the easiest, but also probably the riskiest. That's why they often
steal products and then sell them.
 Known health consequences of drug use include poorer eyesight, hearing,
exhaustion, insomnia, lack of appetite. There is also a risk of serious brain disorders and
associated phobias, worse memory, reflexes and poor orientation. Other health
consequences can include blood poisoning, hepatitis and sexually transmitted diseases.
These illnesses are usually caused by unsterile environments or the application of drugs
through already used devices.

It is true that some users do not have the problems described above because in many
cases they overdose and may die.

Why do people start using drugs? This is a very frequently asked question from our
side. For example, when a police officer sees a drug addict on the ground, or a mother who
sees her son come home under the influence of drugs from a party with his friends. The
issue of drugs is still very hot when we can all see it differently. Information on this issue
reaches us as soon as primary school. Here are preventive lectures on harm, addiction, etc.
But can't this information be like promotion? If someone is a drug abuser after a prevention
program, it doesn't mean that the opposite will happen later. Well, why then? Where is the
impulse to try something unknown? Was the motivation a prevention program, a personal
curiosity, or being part of a group of friends? It's not just young people who are potentially
at risk of drug addiction. We probably all know someone who became a drug addict later in
life. Why does an adult start using drugs? Stress at work? Boredom? Performance in sports?
Friends? Problems in the family? There can be many reasons.

I think society today is well informed about this issue. But some people still
undervalue it.