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Researches show that alcohol, drugs, tobacco and technology
addiction, the new illness of our age, have become widespread in
societies, all of which affect physical, psychological and social lives
of individuals negatively and have an impact on their families and
environment as well. Addictions and addiction producers threa-
tening children and young people in particular use many legal and
illegal marketingmethods in order to induce children and young pe-
ople and lead them to use drugs. Our children and youths who are
subject to emotional emptiness, curiosity, peer pressure or imitate
someone else are on the danger listwhen they aren’t informedwell
or they don’t get attention from their families.
There isn’t only one owner of addiction problem
It is a fact proven by field researches that drug addiction, which is
seen as the most dangerous one among other addictions and tar-
gets young generation directly, has became widespread across
theworld. The reasons for this increase and the actions to struggle
against this addiction are the common problems of all of us. Besi-
des administrativemeasures taken by governments, non-govern-
mental organizationswhere sensitive segments of societies come
together also struggle against drugs with a variety of means. As
the Green Crescent, we always support Turkey’s most compre-
hensive Drug Action Plan which includes workings made in this fi-
eld andwemade huge contributions to. We are facing an enormous
danger and our heavy burden is to assume responsibility of youth
and future. As you know, addiction is a multi-faced problem affec-
ting not only individuals who have it but also families, societies and
countries they live in. It has both health and safety dimensions and
it should be struggled against at full scale. The target segment of
the new generation drug sector has changed and drugs have pe-
netrated into all classes and all age groups of societies around the
world. There isn’t only one owner of the addiction problem. In an
environment where the use of cheap and easily accessible drugs
jumps from secondary schools to primary schools, this problem
cannot be solved with the attempts of parents, teachers in certain
classes and organizations held far away from the matter in certain
weeks.The easiestway to prevent addiction is to give young peop-
le high ideals and ideas and teach them to live for others.
The first and only practice in theworld: TBM
It is a fact that treatment expenses spent onaddiction recoveryare
higher than expenses spent on preventivemeasureswhich are the
most effective method to prevent addiction. Within this scope, the
Green Crescent developed an education programwhich has a con-
tent appealing to every age from seven to seventy in every seg-
ment of society: AddictionTrainingProgramof Turkey (TBM). TBM
is the first, only and the most comprehensive education program
in its field. Defined as big education move, TBM came into effect
after a protocol was signed with the National Education Ministry.
Within the scope of struggle against tobacco, alcohol, drugs, te-
chnology and all other addictions, raising awareness by suppor-
ting young generation with preventive and protective services at
schools and national level has importance to the same degree.
Struggling against addiction since 1920, the Green Crescent lo-
oked at the flaws of current preventive measures and scientific
practices about preventive measures in Turkey. Then, it put TBM
into practice to start a society-indexed struggle by combining
school and family based methods on the purpose of mobilizing
all segments of society. Within the scope of this program, 489
guidance counselors were trained as formatters in the fields of
tobacco, alcohol, drugs and technology addiction and healthy life.
Through these formatters, nearly 28.000 more guidance coun-
selors; namely, field experts were trained. Our field experts will
train 20 million students across Turkey about struggling against
addiction. 20million students; in other words, a whole generation
will learn about the addiction danger. They won’t be involved in
addiction and theywill warn people around themselves.This edu-
cation program is the first and only program in its field in theworld
and it will bemodel for other countries.
Dear Readers,
We opened up Turkey’s deepest rooted health and life magazine
Green Crescent Magazine, which has been continuously publis-
hed by the Green Crescent since 1925, to the international arena.
Our magazine, which gives places to views, articles and inter-
views of addiction experts, includes informative articles about
health as well as movies, travel and gastronomy under the title
of culture and arts. It also gives a place to interviews of famous
peoplewho serve as models with their lifestyles. As of this issue,
our magazine will be published in English and Arabic once every
three months. We hope that our magazine which we will send to
all stakeholders abroad and the Green Crescent branches located
in 22 countries will be beneficial for our readers about knowledge
sharing in the field of addictions.
May the days we see strong and peaceful societies formed by
healthy, prolific and happy individuals not to be far away. Hope
you to stay away fromaddictions.
E D I T O R I A L
Prof. Dr. M. İhsan Karaman
The President of Turkish Green Crescent
The Green Crescent Magazine
yesilay.org.tr
YEŞiLAY
•
SPRING 2015
opens up to the world
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