Stigma of Russian-speaking injection drug users, that live in Czech Republic

The aim of the bachelor thesis was to map the barriers to Russian-speaking injecting drug users (IDU) living in the Czech Republic in entering the addictology services from the perspective of the users themselves. Moreover, to find out whether there is internalized stigma towards drug use in the mentioned population as a consequence of the structural and social stigma present in the post-soviet countries. The work also focuses on other subjective barriers on the part of Russian-speaking IDU in accepting and searching for addictology services in the Czech Republic. A partial goal of the work was to deepen knowledge about the cultural specifics of diasporas. The data were obtained using qualitative research where a semi-structured interview was conducted as a tool. The research group, which was selected by purposeful selection, consists of 8 respondents. This set is made by respondents from Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus and Latvia. The research revealed that the main barrier to the use of addictology services in the Czech Republic from the perspective of respondents was the lack of information which is mainly due to the language barrier and the reluctance of respondents to seek professional help in the Czech Republic as such. Internalized stigma due to social stigma has become the main reason for the..