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Capacity building for health promotion and drug prevention in Croatia

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Abstract

Aim

Drug abuse, addictions, and drug-related crime represent one of the major and still rising problems in Croatia. Following the epidemic breakthrough in the 1990s, a system of prevention and treatment has developed. The aim of this paper is to analyze substance abuse in Croatia and its prevention capacities and practice for dealing with the problem. It analyzes possibilities for capacity building for health promotion and drug prevention in Croatia.

Subject and methods

This problem analysis and need assessment is based on a planned change model widely used for health promotion planning and development of preventive or health promotion interventions. It includes four subanalyses: problem description, analysis of determinants, network and context analysis, and capacities analysis.

Results

Croatian prevention practice lacks a comprehensive and science-based approach in planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of prevention programs. Although our institutional infrastructure is growing, professionals working with young people still lack specific and up-to-date knowledge and skills in mental health promotion and drug prevention to tackle the problem effectively.

Conclusion

To improve prevention practice, a capacity building action is necessary. A postgraduate course on health promotion and drug prevention can boost our professional capacities and stimulate development of the academic field at the University of Rijeka.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was prepared for the purpose of a Ph.D. study in Prevention Science during 2008/2009 under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. C.M.H. Hosman. This paper serves as a contribution to the project of development of a postgraduate course on health promotion and drug prevention financed by the European Commission (Tempus project 41030-2006).

Conflict of interest

The author is engaged in the project of development of a postgraduate course on health promotion and drug prevention financed by the European Commission (Tempus project 41030-2006). The author has no other conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Teaching Institute for Public Health of Primorsko-goranska County, Kresimirova 52A, 51 000, Rijeka, Croatia

    Darko Roviš

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  1. Darko Roviš
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Correspondence to Darko Roviš.

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Roviš, D. Capacity building for health promotion and drug prevention in Croatia. J Public Health 19 (Suppl 1), 57–68 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-010-0385-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-010-0385-z

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