According to the new Addiction Report 2024, one in five adults in the Czech Republic smokes regularly. At the same time, digital addictions such as excessive gaming, social media use, and online gambling are increasing, particularly among young adults.
The Czech government recently received the Summary Report on Addictions in the Czech Republic 2024. The report provides a comprehensive overview of substance use, digital addictions, and their consequences — and, for the first time, places the Czech Republic in a European context.
According to the new report, one in five adults smokes daily, while around 15 to 18 per cent consume alcohol at risky levels. The misuse of psychoactive medications is also widespread, affecting roughly 12 to 15 per cent of adults. It is estimated that 45,000 to 47,000 people in the Czech Republic use illegal drugs such as methamphetamine or opioids. Problem gambling affects two to three per cent of those over 15, and digital addictions are an issue for four to six per cent of adults.
Pavla Chomynová, Head of the National Monitoring of Drugs and Addictions (NMS), emphasises that the number of adults in risk groups has hardly changed over the long term. The situation is different for adolescents and young adults under 25: they smoke and drink less, use illegal drugs less frequently, but are more likely to turn to e-cigarettes, new unregulated substances, or digital gaming and online gambling.
The health and social consequences are significant. Between 16,000 and 18,000 people die each year from smoking-related causes, 6,000 to 7,000 from alcohol, and around 1,000 as a result of illegal drugs. Addictions also have a major impact on employment, housing, financial stability, and family life.
Increasing Numbers Seeking Help
Each year, 90,000 to 100,000 people contact support services. Particularly notable is the rise in multiple addictions and problems related to alcohol and medications. The Czech Republic has 300 to 350 addiction support programmes, including outpatient and residential services, aftercare programmes, and low-threshold services.
In international comparison, the Czech Republic is at the top of Europe for adult alcohol and cannabis consumption, while daily smoking and gambling are around the European average. Findings from the European School Survey on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD 2024) also show that Czech adolescents are more likely than average to experiment with e-cigarettes and psychoactive medications.
