The National Drug Headquarters of the Criminal Police and Investigation Service of the Czech Police (NPC SKPV PČR) traditionally celebrates its important commemorative event – Standard Day – in May each year. The occasion marks the anniversary of May 24, 1999, when the civic association Parents Against Drugs, as a gesture of appreciation for the demanding and dedicated work of police officers in combating drug-related crime, presented the NPC with a flag.
During this ceremonial event, both presidential and internal awards are conferred in a formal ceremony. One of the regularly bestowed honors is the “Drugs & Forensics Bulletin NPC Article of the Year”. Since 1995, the NPC has published a peer-reviewed scientific journal (included in the ERIH Plus academic index since 2019), which focuses on current issues related to addictive substances, chemical precursors for their production, and various aspects of addiction explored through diverse scientific perspectives.
Each year, the editorial board selects the most impactful article, evaluated according to a comprehensive set of criteria. The author(s) are then presented with the award during Standard Day by the Director of the NPC, Brigadier General PhDr. Jakub Frydrych, and the Head of the Editorial Board.
In 2025, the Article of the Year award was granted to the team from the University of Defence –NBC Defence Institute: Ing. Romana Jelínková, Ph.D., Lt. Col. Ing. Monika Hoskovcová, Ph.D., Ing. Petr Žuja, Ph.D., and Lt. Col. Ing. Kamil Bednář, Ph.D., for their contribution titled: Captagon – A Drug Misused in Armed Conflicts.
It was an honor to present this award to Dr. Jelínková’s team, whose valuable contributions have long enriched the journal on a regular basis. This recognition also clearly demonstrates how the issue of addictive substances and their far-reaching negative impacts spans across numerous professional fields and highlights the need to raise awareness among both expert and general audiences.
Author: Lt. Col. Ing. Tomáš Kratina, Ph.D., MBA
Photo: NPC
