New approaches in the fight against addiction: 296 million people are substance dependent!

While the increase in methamphetamine use is drawing attention, it is noted that the age of onset for drug use has dropped to adolescence.

According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately 296 million people worldwide are struggling with substance addiction. Gambling, technology, and alcohol addiction continue to spread rapidly. Prof. Dr. Kültegin Ögel stated, "Unfortunately, addiction continues to spread in our country, causing serious consequences."

The Addiction Academy, Moodist Psychiatry and Neurology Hospital, and Kent University brought together national and international experts in Istanbul for the "Addiction and Recovery Symposium."

296 MILLION PEOPLE ARE SUBSTANCE DEPENDENT

Experts define addiction as a common global problem, and according to the 2023 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), they point out that approximately 296 million people worldwide are struggling with substance addiction. Furthermore, it is emphasized that alcohol, gambling, technology, and other behavioral addictions are increasing rapidly. This situation creates a serious crisis that threatens the health of individuals and societies.

Prof. Dr. Kültegin Ögel, who served as the Scientific Committee Chair of the symposium, shared important information about addiction and these processes.

'EFFECTIVE AND ACCURATE METHODS MUST BE USED'

Prof. Dr. Ögel said; “Unfortunately, addiction continues to spread in our country, causing severe consequences. We must first detect addiction and then treat it correctly. Addiction is a disease that can develop, and for addiction to be cured, we really need to use effective and accurate methods. It is extremely important that parties working in this field—such as psychologists, psychiatrists, family physicians, nurses, dietitians, and social workers—play a role in treatment with a multidisciplinary approach. We organized this symposium for exactly this purpose. Here, everyone is not just being trained; they are building a network by making contact with each other and sharing their knowledge and experiences. I believe that thanks to this network, they will be much more efficient with their patients and clients. I hope we achieve good results in line with these goals. The successful results we achieve will also lay the groundwork for this symposium to grow and be held every year.”

'ADDICTION TENDS TO DESTROY NOT JUST THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT EVERYONE'

Prof. Dr. Kültegin Ögel continued his remarks as follows:

Addiction can appear in different forms; such as alcohol, drug, internet, gambling, or cigarette addiction. However, some addictions, such as gambling, alcohol, and drugs, negatively affect not only the addict but the entire family and create great harm at the social level. Therefore, it is essential that we consider all these factors during the treatment process.

While fighting addiction, we need to address not only the treatment of the individual but also the treatment of the family and improvements aimed at society together. Addiction tends to destroy not just the individual but the entire society, and while it is increasing worldwide, unfortunately, it is spreading much faster in our country. It is of great importance that we all act together on this issue.

'There is an increase in methamphetamine use, the onset period has dropped to adolescence'

Psychologist Melike Şimşek, Chair of the Addiction and Recovery Symposium Organizing Committee, touched upon the increase in substance addiction in her speech on the subject.

Psychologist Şimşek also noted the following:

This symposium was organized for professionals working in the field of addiction, such as psychologists, social workers, nurses, and physicians, due to the increase in addiction cases and its frequent appearance in violent incidents. Our goal is to increase recovery rates and develop new treatment methods and prevention policies by discussing what can be done to prevent addiction. These processes are not unique to our country; similar cases are being experienced in America and Europe.

The relationship between addiction and violence is complex; research shows that addicts are not inherently prone to violence, but rather turn to addictive substances for violence. Since addiction is a disease, labeling individuals should be avoided.

A serious increase is observed in methamphetamine use, especially in groups with low socio-cultural levels, and it begins during adolescence. Prof. Dr. Wim Van Den Brink stated that children of parents with alcohol addiction are at higher risk, and that genetic and familial factors play a role. Furthermore, it was stated that substance use, attention deficit, autism, and major depression share common genetic risk factors, and that individuals with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder are 50% more prone to addiction.

'IT TOOK 25 YEARS OF MY LIFE'

Speaking at the event, Recovery Consultant and former addict Mert Kamçı said, “I started addiction at the age of 11 with volatile substances like thinner and glue. Then, in 2010, I started using heroin and methamphetamine. With my treatment process, I have been clean for 9 years, and I currently serve as a recovery consultant at the hospital as part of a treatment team. I started drugs due to peer pressure in my social circle; this situation took 25 years of my life. The most important thing I learned is to direct people in a similar situation to treatment.”