The Czech Republic is experiencing a troubling rise in deaths caused by narcotics and psychotropic substances, surpassing the usual drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin. The recent surge is particularly linked to cocaine and fentanyl.
Michaela Volková, deputy head of the Prague Regional Police Directorate, reported that fourteen drug overdose deaths were recorded in the first six months of 2024 alone. “This is an extreme number, and we are seeing a significant increase in this area,” Volková said in a report on Czech news channel ČT24. In comparison, there were 22 cases in the entire region last year.
One contributing factor is the increased purity of cocaine, which is arriving in Europe in a more potent form due to overproduction in South America. Consumers accustomed to a certain dose may struggle to adjust to the higher purity, which can lead to fatal overdoses.
The growing abuse of fentanyl, an opioid many times stronger than morphine or heroin, is also a major concern. While synthetic fentanyl has become a significant issue in the USA, in the Czech Republic, it is primarily fentanyl from transdermal patches that is being misused. “Consumers remove the active ingredient from the patches to inject it intravenously or swallow the patches directly, which has been fatal in some cases,” Volková explained.
Each year, around 50 people die in the Czech Republic due to drug poisoning; last year saw 57 such deaths. The Czech black market for drugs is estimated at around CZK 10 billion, with marijuana and cocaine being among the most commonly used substances. According to a report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, the total value of the European drug market is approximately 31 billion euros.
