Historically, due to the events of February 1948, the context of the post-war development of self-help groups operating in the then Czechoslovakia naturally differs from that experienced in the neighbouring countries such as Austria, Germany or Poland. Partly because of the specific circumstances under the communist regime, the general framework for the operation of self-help groups was different, although the above mentioned deep-rooted tradition of self-help groups has played its part in the differences. The totalitarian regime found alcohol use to be something which was “difficult to accept”. The issue of alcohol dependency was, however, more or less recognised due to the epidemiological situation and this made it possible for the original model of “quasi-self-help” groups lead by – or rather supported by – addiction treatment professionals to emerge. Cooperation with these groups was tolerated and later even purposefully, systemically supported. It is also interesting to note that for instance the KLUS (Klub lidí usilujících o abstinenci – People Striving for Abstinence Club) activity was established even a couple of months earlier (on 5 February 1948 to be accurate) than the oldest specialised unit for the treatment of addictions, “U Apolináře”, just in the turbulent year of 1948. The situation in the prevention and treatment of illicit drug use was much worse, as no drug problem officially existed. After the fall of the communist regime, such interventions had to start virtually from scratch. Similarly, this was also the case with self-help activities. Until then, self-help for drug users was nearly illegal and viewed almost as an activity aimed against the regime; it gained the basis for its further development in the 1990s. Nevertheless, current treatment programmes in the Czech Republic are still governed by the expert model to a greater extent and the influence of self-help principles has been less apparent.
Reference List
Gabrhelík, R., Miovský, M. (2011). History of Self-help and 'Quasi-Self-Help' Groups in the Czech Republic: Development and Current Situation in the Institutional Context of Drug Services. [Reprinted from Gabrhelik, R., Miovsky, M. (2009). History of Self-help and 'Quasi-Self-Help' Groups in the Czech Republic: Development and Current Situation in the Institutional Context of Drug Services. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, (4)137–158.] Adiktologie, 11(2), 100–112.