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11.05.2009

Addictive substance use in children and adolescents from ethnic minorities and socially excluded areas with an emphasis on the transfer of experience with prevention and research methods from Norwegian partners

The Centre for Addictology, Psychiatric Clinic, 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University (member of the European Network on Drug Culture Research working group, led by Prof. Swensson of Sweden) has established cooperation with a number of universities. This working group conceived the intention of carrying out a partial project corresponding to a thematic area under Measure A of the grant call of the Research Support Fund financed by EEA. The subject under consideration is that of research into addictive substance use among adolescents from ethnic minorities, the related health and social consequences, and the prevention thereof, which is an issue that has been disregarded in the Czech Republic for a long time. The Centre for Addictology has made several attempts to investigate this area in the past. However, these were always limited by a lack of interest on the part of the competent authorities and institutions, insufficient support, and a lack of financial resources. Therefore, only small pilot studies were conducted. Nevertheless, these provide clear evidence that the issue in question poses a truly pressing problem for the Czech Republic and that, apart from the complications mentioned above, there is a low level of professional preparedness for and experience of such a specific research focus and preventive intervention programmes for these target groups. We believe that the project as proposed will provide the Czech party with the theoretical basis for a thorough understanding of the issue under consideration. In addition, the Czech party should benefit from the project by adopting know-how for working with the target group and by the establishment of instructional support for training in the issue delivered to practitioners and students. Apart from the above, the project will establish a partnership between two research
institutions, which will result in the development of a research framework for the issue under study. It is also our aim to work within this framework after the project has been completed.
Published by: Mgr. Lenka Šťastná
Last review: 18.05.2009

Overall Objective

The overall objective of the project is to conduct research on addictive substance use among children and adolescents from ethnic minorities and socially excluded areas under the supervision of the University of Stavanger. Other objectives are to obtain the methodological guidelines for early assessment and intervention used in Norway, and to acquire experience of the implementation of preventive activities for the target group in Norway, as well as develop learning materials for students and researchers as far as this area of study is concerned. For practical reasons, we divide these principal objectives into 4 key thematic areas pertaining to different activities.

• Implementation of a pilot study focusing on research into the use of inhalants among children and adolescents from ethnic minorities at risk of social exclusion. This study would include exercises and discussions based on the knowledge obtained. The conclusions from this study will serve as the basis for indicated and selective prevention for the above-mentioned target group in the Czech Republic.

• Acquisition of assessment and interventional materials addressing addictive substance use among young people from ethnic minorities or from socially excluded areas: identification of suitable tools, translation and adjustment of the tools for the Czech setting, and making them accessible to the broader professional community – development of comprehensive instructional support for the college/university level of education. This would cover a specific area of the discipline of addictology which accounts for scientific methods and intervention and assessment procedures allowing for the distinctive features of ethnic minorities in the Czech Republic.

• Acquisition of experience in systems of care, methods and research projects focusing on addictive substance use among children and adolescents from ethnic minorities. This would involve internship, training in research strategies and methods used in this field, and different ways of implementing various types of research studies in view of the following specific aspects: contacting the target group, motivation to participate in research, target group outreach strategies, data collection and selection of methodology, data analysis, and possible interpretation.

• Development of a draft framework document covering this area of research, which would be submitted, together with the project outcomes, to the competent institutions in order to support additional research activities in the field even after the project has been completed and thus ensure the sustainability of its outcomes. Through our involvement in the project, we would also like to strengthen our team’s capacity to apply for foreign grants together with our colleagues from Norway and thus promote the intention of long-term cooperation, which may only be maintained in this field by carrying out joint projects, exchanges of students and teachers, and internships/study visits by researchers, as well as by conducting studies at the respective levels.

Activities:

  • Assessment of needs and the current state of volatile substance use among children from the target group.
  • Acquisition, translation, and adaptation of materials for diagnostic and early intervention.
  • Internships and education at selected institutions in Norway.
  • Development of a research framework and development of e-learning instructional materials.

Team members: Lenka Miovska (leader of the project), Michaela Malinova (project manager), Michal Miovsky (supervisor), experts: Jaroslav Šejvl, Matúš Šucha

A coordination worker on behalf of Partner A will be responsible for the communication with the main partner, for attending the meetings and for realising the sub-activities which are the responsibility of Partner A: Martin Dolejs, Miroslav Charvát, Palacky University, Olomouc

A coordination worker on behalf of Partner B will be responsible for the communication with the others involved in the project and for the organisational part of the meetings in Norway. Hildegunn Sagvaag, University of Stavanger.

Supported by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Financial Mechanism and from the Czech Republic.

OPPA EU
European Union. European Social Fund.
Prague & EU: Investing into your future.
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