Characteristics of alcohol use among migrants from Ukraine to the Czech Republic in the context of the war in Ukraine in 2022

Abstract

Introduction and objective: The article aims to estimate the extent of alcohol use and some other mental health issues among Ukrainians who entered the Czech Republic after 24th February 2022. Previous studies focused on the use of alcohol and other substances among Ukrainians in the Czech Republic can’t be applied to the current situation as these studies mostly covered the male population and economic migration that differed considerably from the situation in 2022. Methods: A convenience non-representative online survey was conducted on a sample of 66 Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic. Most respondents came to the Czech Republic with their children. Standard questionnaires related to substance use (alcohol, tobacco) were used to determine the reasons for alcohol drinking and possible depression symptoms. Results: According to the results of the AUDIT tool, most respondents can be classified as low risk in terms of alcohol drinking. Some respondents referred to alcohol-related problems. Since the beginning of the war and since arriving in Czechia, there is a high positive correlation between the change in drinking frequency and the change in the amount of alcohol use during a typical drinking occasion. The results also showed a high level of depression symptoms and a high level of smoking. Conclusion: The results are in line with other (rare) research in the field. The importance of alcohol consumption research is stressed, while longer-term research is highly desirable.