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GREEN CRESCENT CONTINUES
TO BE A GLOBAL ROLE MODEL
H
aving attended Session 62 of
the Commission on Narcotic
Drugs held at the United Nations
Headquarters inVienna, Austria, Green
Crescent continues to be a global role
model in the fight against addiction,
based on its shared experiences and
operations.
Having a say in the world in the efforts
to fight against addiction, Green
Crescent attended Session 62 of the
Commission on Narcotic Drugs held
at the United Nations Headquarters
in Vienna, Austria. Green Crescent
continues to be a global role model in
the fight against addiction, based on
its shared experiences and operations.
In her presentation in the session
entitled “None Left Behind”, hosted
by Green Crescent, General Manager
Sultan Işık shared how Green Crescent
fights against substance abuse in
Turkey.
Further
presentations
explaining
approaches to the fight against
addiction were made by Gilberto
Gerra, the Chief of the Prevention
Treatment and Rehabilitation Unit of
UNODC; Dr. Massimo Barra, President
of the Standing Commission of
the International Red Cross and
Red Crescent; Linda Nisson, WFAD
Secretary General; and Ahmet Muhtar
Gün, Permanent Representative to the
United Nations in Vienna.
“Addiction is not just the problem of
other people”
Emphasizing that Green Crescent
is the only NGO that fights alcohol,
substance, tobacco, gambling and
technology addictions globally as a
regional leader, Işık pointed out that
addictionnotonlyaffectsthosewhoare
addicted, but also other segments of
society, whether directly or indirectly:
“Providing families with adequate and
accurate information about addiction
and the associated therapies makes
a significant contribution to the
recovery of the addicted individuals.
Clients that attend the therapy
sessions with their families are more
likely to stay clean, that is to say, they
are more likely to stay away from
substance use for longer and continue
the therapy process.”
Stating that Green Crescent has been
regularly attending the UN-organized
programs for 3 years and has hosted
various sessions, Işık said that
addiction is never a problem of other
people, stating that everyone should
approach the issue with the same level
of sensitivity.
In the annual CND and intersessional meetings attended by Green Crescent, it was observed that the
approach to the drug problem is changing. While some NGOs and countries advocate the formulation
of policies to reduce the demand for and use of drugs, other argue that in terms of drug control, only
the reduction of drug-related harm should be addressed. In the intersessional meetings of the CND,
these views are regularly addressed by NGOs. Through these meetings, the United Nations identifies
the course of the drug problem and the needs in this area. The active role assumed by Green Crescent
in the CND aids in its collaborations with NGOs that comply with the principles it has adopted, and
serves as a guide in identifying actions to be taken for drug control.
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