Minister Selçuk announced: We will implement it

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Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, Minister of Family, Labor, and Social Services, announced that they will implement the Addiction Treatment Service Model (BAHAR)—which takes a holistic approach to rehabilitation and reintegration as part of the fight against drug addiction—in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

The third meeting of the “Stay Active, Stay Safe” project, organized by the Radio and Television JournalistsAssociation (RTGD) with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of the Interior, was held in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Conference Hall.

In his speech here, Selçuk pointed out that cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, and substance abuse cause the greatest harm to human and public health, and emphasized that addiction is one of the most significant problems threatening not only the individual but also the family and the social fabric.

Noting that protecting young people and their families from drug and substance abuse and taking preventive measures is everyone’s shared responsibility, Selçuk stated that they are conducting the fight against addiction in full coordination with the relevant public institutions.

TURKEY UNIVERSITY STUDENT PROFILE SURVEY

Minister Selçuk emphasized that the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services has assumed responsibility in the areas of research, social integration, and demand reduction, and announced that they have completed the Turkey University Youth Profile Survey (TÜGPA) aimed at determining the prevalence of drug use.

Noting that the study is the first of its kind in the country to focus exclusively on young people and youth, Selçuk explained that more than 20,000 young people from 68 different universities in 33 provinces participated in the study.

“WE WILL BRING ‘BAHAR’ TO LIFE”

Noting that they had conducted on-site assessments regarding drug use with the assistance of staff from the Social Support Program (ASDEP), Selçuk continued his remarks as follows:

“In the fight against drug addiction, ensuring that individuals reintegrate into social life after treatment and preventing them from relapsing are just as important as the treatment itself. To this end, our Ministry has established 21 social reintegration units across 19 provinces. At these units, we provide daytime services to all individuals aged 18 and older who have completed short- or long-term treatment and who volunteer to participate. To enhance the effectiveness of our units, we are creating spaces where those who benefit from these services can spend their free time and participate in work and occupational therapy. We will also implement the Addiction Treatment Service Model (BAHAR), which brings a holistic approach to rehabilitation and reintegration processes, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The process is nearing completion. We believe that once we implement this program, our existing social reintegration units will operate more effectively and actively.”

Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, noting that they are conducting initiatives to combat all forms of addiction that hinder children’s healthy development, said, “We have specialized 13 of our child support centers across the country (ÇODEM), we have specialized 13 of them to ensure that the treatment and rehabilitation processes for our children with substance use disorders are carried out properly.”

Noting that they collaborate with the Ministry ofNational Educationon behalf of children under protection and care at child support centers, Selçuk stated that they refer young people and children who are not enrolled in formal education to vocational training programs through İŞKUR.

ANKA CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM

Selçuk announced that they had developed the Anka Child Support Program with the aim of helping the children residing at ÇODEM overcome the traumas they have experienced, acquire life skills, and foster their personal development in an environment of well-being and happiness.

Selçuk, highlighting the importance of the family in preventing substance abuse, noted that they had distributed the book they had prepared, titled “Substance Use Risk and Prevention of Substance Dependence,” in all provinces.

Selçuk provided information about the training activities conducted to date on this topic.

Noting that young people are the future of the country and the nation, Selçuk stated that, guided by reason and science and through their faith and exemplary moral character, they will lead humanity forward.

“WE CREATED THIS PROJECT TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE AWAY FROM ADDICTION”

Şebnem Bursalı, President of the Radio, Television, and Newspaper Journalists’ Association, also celebrated “January 10, Working Journalists’ Day,” and explained that they have launched an awareness project to help keep young people away from substance abuse and channel their energy in the right direction.

The resident of Bursa thanked those who contributed to the project, particularly Emine Erdoğan, the wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The event was also attended by Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, Minister of Youth and Sports, and Süleyman Soylu, Minister of the Interior.

‘Turkey Is Successful in the Fight Against Addiction’

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The Turkish Green Crescent Society has reached millions of students and parents through its educational programs conducted as part of its fight against addictions.

The Turkey AddictionPrevention Education Program, launched to combat addictionssuch as tobacco, alcohol, drugs, and technology, has yielded successful results.

As part of the program, various educational activities were carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education, the Turkish Armed Forces, the Presidency of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services, and universities.

Ismail Memiş, the Youth Coordinator of the Turkish Green Crescent Society , told an AA reporter that the Turkish Addiction Prevention Education Program has yielded successful results in the fight against addiction.

Memiş, noting that they have prepared educational materials on tobacco, alcohol, substance, and technology addictions for all age groups, said, “These educational materials were shared with the Ministry of National Education, the Turkish Armed Forces, the Presidency of Religious Affairs, and the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services. “According to figures provided by the Ministry of National Education, addiction prevention materials have been distributed to 13 million students and 4 million parents in Turkey,” he said.

– “The fight against addiction begins at home”

Memiş, who stated that the training sessions covered the fight against addiction, noted the following:

“We began these training sessions at universities. We are trying to illustrate, through the examples of young Yeşilay members, just how freely one can choose an independent life and how valuable it is to possess that will. It is extremely valuable for young people to take part in this struggle and serve as role models. We are committed to increasing the number of young Yeşilay members. Thanks to the efforts of these young Yeşilay members, Turkey is achieving successful results in the fight against addiction.”

We must reinforce a very serious awareness of substance abuse and make it a priority for families. Because, unfortunately, the less parents know about this issue—and the more they lack information—the greater the risk that their children will become addicted. When families are informed about this issue, they can prevent at least 50 percent of their children from becoming addicted. The fight against addiction begins at home.”

Memiş noted that families can access the most practical information on addiction at “tbm.org.tr” and explained that they are conducting initiatives to encourage parents to visit these channels and websites.

– “Serving young people since 1920”

Mahmut Esat Arar, a member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Green Crescent Society and the Chairman of the Young Green Crescent Commission, also stated that the Green Crescent was founded in 1920 to serve young people.

Esat, noting that the organization’s primary goal since its founding has been to organize young people and protect them from addiction so that they can serve their country and nation, continued as follows:

“We are currently reaching out to young people through Yeşilay clubs at 110 universities, working to keep them away from addictions through various activities. We also have initiatives aimed at high school students. We will be launching programs in high schools as soon as possible, just as we have done at universities. Our young people need to be kept engaged. In this day and age, they are influenced by the media, movies, and theater, which can lead them to fall into the clutches of certain addictions. If no measures are taken, technology and substance addiction, in particular, could reach serious proportions. We stand by our young people in this fight.”

President Erdoğan Issues a Directive on Combating Addiction

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A circular signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and published in the Official Gazette calls for the resolute continuation of efforts to combat substance addictions—such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco—as well as behavioral addictions—such as gambling and technology addiction—and and to ensure coordination among ministries and public institutions and organizations, the High Council for the Fight Against Addiction has been reconstituted under the chairmanship of the Vice President, with the participation of the Ministers of Justice, Family, Labor and Social Services, Environment and Urbanization, Youth and Sports, Treasury and Finance, Interior, National Education, Health, Agriculture and Forestry, Trade, and Transportation and Infrastructure, as well as the Deputy Chair of the Presidential Council on Health and Food Policies.

The High Council for the Fight Against Addiction will be chaired by the Minister of Health in cases where the Vice President is unable to attend.

Within the framework of the strategies and action plans to be developed by the High Council, a committee chaired by the Deputy Minister of Health and provincial coordination committees chaired by the governor may be established upon the recommendation of the Minister of Health to carry out their duties. In addition, the High Council may establish working groups as needed.

The Ministry of Health will be responsible for providing secretariat services for the High Council, its committees, and working groups, as well as for following up on the decisions made. The Ministry of Health will prepare progress reports every six months and submit them to the High Council for review.

The assessments conducted, activities carried out, and results obtained will be shared with the public by the Chair of the High Council in the form of an annual activity report. Any support, assistance, or facilitation required for the work to be carried out by the councils in the field of combating addiction will be provided by the relevant public institutions and organizations, and the duties and responsibilities undertaken in the implementation of the decisions made will be fulfilled with due care.