Drug use in Turkey has dropped to as young as 10 years old

Experts, noting that throughout history people have struggled with health issues that threaten their lives, said that people with substance use disorders generally do not want to recover from their condition. Mental Health Specialist Ebru Öztepe Yavaşçı, noting that only a very small percentage of people with substance use disorders seek treatment—regardless of how low their quality of life and living standards may be—said, “In fact, addiction is a craving to use something excessively. Substance addiction is the same. The individual struggles to control their substance use and experiences an intense craving to use the substance excessively. They use more of the substance to achieve the same effect. One of the key criteria for substance dependence is that if a patient has been using a substance for 12 months, they can be considered a substance-dependent individual. “We cannot label everyone who has tried a substance as a substance-dependent individual. There is no single cause of addiction. The causes of addiction are as numerous as the number of people who use substances,” he said.

Yavaşcı, noting that the belief that addiction is incurable and the claim that “trying it just once won’t lead to addiction” are both very wrong, said, “Even trying it just once is significant in terms of addiction. Because anyone can become addicted. There is no rule that says only people lacking willpower will become addicted. No one sets out thinking, ‘I’m going to become addicted.’ In addiction, taking a break—not quitting—is very important. The longer the break, the higher the success rate of treatment. Drug testing can be performed using hair or urine samples taken from the individual. Drugs can remain detectable in hair for 4 to 6 months and in urine for about 4 days. In addition, certain withdrawal symptoms such as general behavioral changes, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and irritability may appear,” he said.

Highlighting that the lifetime prevalence of substance use in Turkey is 2.7 percent according to the latest study, Yavaşçı said, “The youngest age at first substance use was 10, and the oldest was 67. Children and adolescents are the age group in which substance use is most common. “For this reason, families need to be very vigilant. Families play a major role in keeping their children away from bad habits. Setting a good example as a society is also important. Parents should guide their children by explaining what is right, without overpunishing or judging their behavior.” Children must be taught about harmful substances as early as preschool. During adolescence, however, children begin to separate from their families. The behavioral characteristics typical of adolescence run parallel to those exhibited by people with addictions. Therefore, it is not a given that every adolescent will become addicted. However, close supervision is necessary. We must teach children and adolescents to say “no” to harmful substances. It is also very important to ensure that children have access to sports activities where they can burn off their energy. We also need to monitor their peer groups and the relationships they form, even from a distance. We must teach them what addiction is. They need to know how to protect themselves. Because substance use often begins through a close friend. Curiosity or a desire to fit in with a peer group can lead to first exposure to substances,” he said.

Abdullah Çibir
BURSA