The "2017 Report" prepared by the United Nations (UN) International Drug Control Board (INCB) was shared with the public by Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy, Vice Rector of Üsküdar University, Member and former President of the United Nations Drug Control Board for the periods 2005-2010 and 2015-2022.
Emphasizing that the biggest danger for Turkey is heroin, Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy said, "In a country where so much heroin passes through, it passes through tons. It is not possible for it not to stay here, so a transit country becomes a user no matter what." Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Rector of Üsküdar University, defined addiction as a social cancer of society and emphasized the importance of treatment and the rehabilitation process afterwards. Tarhan emphasized that Turkey is the only country among developed countries that does not have an independent law on rehabilitation.
At the press conference held at Üsküdar University Altunizade Campus, Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy announced the 2017 Report prepared by the United Nations (UN) International Drug Control Board (INCB). According to the report, drug users around the world face stigmatization. Globally, only one out of every six people in need of drug addiction treatment can access such treatment programs. In the report, which also covers regional developments, it was pointed out that internationally controlled drugs and narcotics are being sold over the internet.
At the press conference where data on the fight against drugs in Turkey as well as in Middle Eastern countries were shared, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Rector of Üsküdar University, gave important information on preventing drug use.
Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy: "40% of heroin originating from Afghanistan is intercepted by Iran and Turkey"
Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy, who was a member and former President of the United Nations Drug Control Board for the periods 2005-2010 and 2015-2022, said that Turkey was included in the 2017 report of the International Drug Control Board because it is on the traditional Balkan Road.
Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy said: "While 40% of the heroin originating from Afghanistan is intercepted by Iran and Turkey, it is known that about 350 tons of heroin reaches Western European markets. However, the report also includes the fact that Afghan heroin reaches Eastern Europe via the Northern Black Sea route via Armenia, which is defined as the "Northern Route" thanks to the security measures we have taken at our borders instead of the Balkan Route. Turkey is also on the route of Captagon trafficking, which starts from Eastern Europe and reaches Iraq, Syria and other countries of the Arabian Peninsula. Captagon is a preparation that was available on the market years ago but is no longer manufactured due to its abuse. However, due to its popularity, counterfeit Captagons have been put on the market. Counterfeit Captagons contain different amphetamine derivatives and substances such as caffeine instead of phenethylline. They are especially used by terrorist groups to cope with insomnia and hunger, and are caught in large quantities in our eastern regions, especially in Hatay."
"The biggest threat to Turkey is heroin"
Emphasizing that the biggest danger for Turkey is heroin, Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy said, "In a country where so much heroin passes through, it passes through tons. It is not possible for it not to stay here, so it becomes a user regardless of a transit country. As soon as it lowers its price in the market, it spreads. The spread of drugs is in the hands of the smuggler himself. He controls it because illegal organizations control the market. Heroin is the most dangerous. Heroin ranks first in terms of the substances used by those who apply to AMATEM for treatment."
"Treatment should be applied in prisons"
Pointing out the importance of the use of non-prescription drugs, Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy stated that treatment in prisons should be prioritized and said
"Addicts in prisons are an important problem. It should not only be considered as a substance, the abuse of prescription drugs without a prescription is also addiction. This is a serious problem because that person can then go to heroin, which is much cheaper. A lot of substances have become pills. Yes, Turks don't like injections, but they can easily swallow pills. Treatment in prison is a very important detail and it is never done in Turkey. Whereas in the US, especially in prisons, treatment is compulsory. When a person says "I don't want to be treated" when he is outside, you cannot treat him by force. But he can do it inside the prison. He sees this as a method. But we do not have such a practice. There are 100 thousands of people inside who need treatment."
"Women in asylum camps develop drug addiction"
Drawing attention to women's drug addiction, Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy said, "There are different camps where many female Syrians are kept together. There are camps located on the borderline, both in our country and in different places like Lebanon. The physicians here are obliged to give antidepressants. For those who are in great distress. They also develop drug addiction. I mean, not Captagon and heroin, but drug addiction. In the case of women's pregnancies, there is a possibility that their babies may be born disabled."
Treatment and rehabilitation should be given more importance
The INCB 2017 Report emphasized that the need for treatment and rehabilitation greatly outweighs the availability of services. It called on governments to place greater emphasis on treatment and rehabilitation rather than focusing solely on prevention.
The report called on governments to invest in treatment and rehabilitation services, paying particular attention to the needs of special populations, and reminded states of their obligation to provide treatment services to those affected by drug use disorders.
1 in 6 people access treatment
Globally, only one in six people in need of drug addiction treatment has access to such treatment programs, the INCB warns in its Annual Report. Even where treatment is available, it is of low quality and falls short of international standards.
According to the report, people who use drugs around the world face stigma, which further complicates the situation. This stigmatization not only hinders their opportunities for and access to treatment, but also affects their prospects for reintegration into society.
Internet pharmacies operate without a license
The report emphasized that substance use disorder is one of the most stigmatizing health problems worldwide. In the report, which also covers regional developments, it was pointed out that internationally controlled drugs and medicines are sold over the internet. The report stated that some online pharmacies operate without a license and can sell pharmaceutical preparations containing narcotic substances without a prescription.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: "Addiction is the social cancer of society"
Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan defined addiction as a social cancer of society. Stating that there are important pillars in the fight against addiction, Tarhan said, "One of them is protection. Healthy people should become aware and conscious about substance use. In other words, these people should not feel the need to use substances. We call this demand reduction in the fight against addiction. Preventive mental health services are important."
Pointing out that despite all kinds of measures taken in developed countries, substance addiction and deaths increase, Tarhan pointed out that demand comes to the fore here and that the demand for substance use comes mostly from young people.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: "Anti-addiction policies should be carried out correctly"
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that anti-addiction policies should be carried out correctly and said, "Some policies are only aimed at combating supply, but of course this is not enough. Narcotics teams should be established, but what should we do to reduce the demand? Apart from protection, there is also prevention. In prevention, it is important to identify risk groups, to map the risk, and to determine which regions on this risk map have more of these. In the fight against addiction, it is necessary to include primary care services, and to establish rehabilitation teams consisting of special psychologists and social workers. Identifying risks in these policies is important in terms of measures. In terms of treatment, access to treatment is a very important issue. There are many people who have difficulties in accessing treatment. These are people who live on the streets, who are unclaimed, who live alone. People with broken families and bad friends are also in the risk group. They should also be supported in accessing treatment, and these people should be directed to compulsory treatment."
Prof. Dr. Tarhan: "We do not have an independent law on rehabilitation"
Tarhan pointed out that most of these people should be directed to the rehabilitation process after the detox (purification) period, after the acute period of treatment,
He emphasized that Turkey is the only country among developed countries that does not have an independent law on rehabilitation.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said: "Psychological rehabilitation, social rehabilitation and vocational rehabilitation processes need to go together. Unfortunately, Turkey has the fewest rehabilitation centers in the world in terms of rehabilitation. It is the only country without an independent constitution among developed countries in terms of rehabilitation. At the moment, our priority is to release the person back to their old environment after treatment. AMATEMs have become institutions that repeat themselves. However, these people should be treated in health villages where rehabilitation is done in a structured environment without leaving them in their old environment. If the state cannot do this, let the private sector do it. Otherwise, 10 years from now, the same issues about addiction will be talked about again."
Stating that the active use of primary care services in addiction policies will create a practical way for Turkey, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, "I think it is important that those who determine Turkey's health policy take this into consideration when determining their policies on addiction."
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: "New psychoactive substances are a threat to young people"
Stating that the illegal chemical industry is pursuing new plans, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, "They are setting new traps for young people. They produce new synthetic substances and sell them at cheap prices under the stairs. These new psychoactive substances called Bonzai and Jamaica or substances called bath powder create an artificial consciousness in the person. He sees himself in a false paradise. Then schizophrenia emerges, mental illnesses occur. It turns the person into a zombie and causes sudden death. We are losing the new generation. In order to prevent the loss of the new generation, it is absolutely necessary that the policies on this issue should be sustainable policies and that this issue should be made into sustainable policies, not only when there is a crisis in society and in the press."