Fighting addiction: Are we serious?

I came across some visuals prepared within the framework of the Turkish Green Crescent's (Yeşilay) Addiction Combat Action Plan. The Green Crescent declares: "The main addictive substances are: drugs, cigarettes, e-cigarettes and hookahs, alcoholic beverages, stimulants and hallucinogens, prescription drugs used without doctor supervision, and volatile substances such as certain glues, thinner, and lighter fluid."

There is certainly a problem with the definition. But in real life, a "major addictive substance" has been overlooked: Sugar. Substances with high sugar content, specially packaged and easily sold to young people, children, and pregnant women, have been ignored.

In the same visual, addiction is defined as follows: "Substance addiction is the use of substances that negatively affect the body's functions, and the inability to stop using these substances despite the harm caused. When an addict takes a break from substance use, they experience withdrawal symptoms. Over time, the frequency and dosage of substance use increase."

Who can say that sugar addiction does not fit this definition? Moreover, when we consider the direct and indirect burden on the healthcare system resulting from sugar consumption and metabolic syndrome, isn't sugar addiction an addiction that should be carefully addressed and fought against? Isn't it clear that high-sugar-density foods are easily accessible to almost all risk groups and that there are those who profit financially from this? Don't we have a Public Health Law (Hıfzısıhha Kanunu)? Doesn't this law impose duties on the state and the administration? Doesn't the lack of any obstacles to the consumption of these substances lead to unfair competition against healthy food producers and consumers? With the government, the opposition, civil society, and the authorities... why is the entire country indifferent to this issue?

Are the lives and health of the younger generations and the millions suffering from metabolic syndrome worthless? Not all bombs fall on our heads from the sky... Some are fed to our people in packaging!

I present the visual prepared by the Green Crescent for your attention.

Bon appétit!