Announcement from Green Crescent regarding the June 26 World Drug Day

Green Crescent has issued a call to protect young people from addiction in a statement made on the occasion of the June 26 World Drug Day. In a statement notifying that Green Crescent and the Ministry of National Education (MEB) of the Turkish Republic had joined forces to engage in preventive actions against drugs and other addictions, with such projects as the Green Crescent Addiction Prevention Training Program (TBM) and the Life Skills Training Program, Green Crescent President Prof. Mücahit Öztürk said, "We must work together to tackle the problem of addiction faced by the world." Reminding that they also provided support to people with addictions under the umbrella of the Green Crescent Counseling Center (YEDAM), Öztürk stated "To date, 5,208 people with substance use disorders applied to YEDAM, and have taken a step towards a life free from addiction as a result of the support they have received from us."
 
In a statement to mark the June 26 World Drug Day, Green Crescent drew attention to the risks faced by children and young people from drugs. The statement underlined the importance of preventive actions, and the activities of Green Crescent in this area were emphasized.
 
Expressing that they are aware of the threat addiction poses to the whole world, and that they attach great importance to the prevention of addictions before they occur, Green Crescent President Prof.  Mücahit Öztürk said:
 
“Preventive actions are indispensable for a society that is free of addictions, and for the raising of healthy generations. To this end, we must provide people with the necessary tools to support their physiological, spiritual and social development. We must work together to tackle this risk that is faced by society as a whole, but especially by young people. It is this that has driven our continued efforts to tackle addiction for over a century."

Green Crescent and the Ministry of National Education (MEB) of the Turkish Republic join forces for preventive actions

Informing the participants of the projects carried out by Green Crescent in cooperation with the Ministry of National Education (MEB) of the Turkish Republic, Öztürk said: “In addition to the Green Crescent Addiction Prevention Training Program (TBM), we are working to provide our young people with the necessary tools through a Life Skills Training Program. Furthermore, through our projects in different fields, from culture to the arts, and further in the field of sports, we are looking to both raise the awareness of young people of the threat of addictions, and to contribute to their adoption of healthy living habits."
 
Reaching 10 million students and 3 million adults every year through the Green Crescent Addiction Prevention Training Program (TBM), Green Crescent seeks to help people maintain the ability to say no to harmful habits, to raise awareness and to change behaviors in 7th grade students all across Turkey through its piloted Life Skills Training Program. In addition, within the scope of the School-Based Addiction Intervention Program (OBM), Green Crescent aims to prevent the spread of harmful habits and behaviors such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs among at-risk students before they turn into addictions and to win back these students without excluding them from the education system.

More than 5,000 people with substance use disorders have applied to YEDAM for help

Green Crescent provides free services to those wanting to leave their addictions behind, as well as to their families, through the more than 100 Green Crescent Counseling Centers (YEDAM) found in every corner of Turkey. Stating that they continue their efforts throughout the rehabilitation of people with substance use disorders and through preventive actions, Öztürk said: “As Green Crescent, we hold the hands of our children, young people and anyone who is in need, young people and old alike, in cases of addiction. With YEDAM, we aim to bring people with addiction problems and their families back to life by providing them with psychological and social support. It is a great pleasure for us to see people who have rid themselves of their addictions and have started life anew, and to witness the joy of their families. To date, 5,208 people with substance use disorders have applied to YEDAM, and have taken a step towards a life free from addiction with the support they have received from us.”