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Project for the Determination
of Psychoactive Substances in
Wastewater
The Project for Identification of
Psychoactive Substances through an
Analysis of Municipal Wastewater is
being implemented in 73 cities in 20
countries, including Turkey, Spain and
Denmark. The cities include Madrid,
Lisbon, Barcelona, Bristol, Amsterdam,
Berlin, Milan, Paris, Oslo, Helsinki,
Copenhagen, Dortmund, Munich and
Zagreb. This project will, within the
framework of the fight against drugs
in Turkey, help in the acquisition
of evidence-based statistical data,
allowing comparisons with the other
countries involved in the study.
The project also features a supply-
related trend analysis component
through which statistical data will be
garnered to support improvement and
prevention efforts.
Minister Soylu: “Green Crescent
shares our responsibilities”
Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu
commented on the importance of the
research: “We are glad to be signing
this protocol with Green Crescent,
being a significant institution both
for our country and our history, in its
fight against drug abuse, which is an
important issue that is being faced
by humanity in Turkey and at a global
level. We are happy for two reasons.
One is that we will be able to take a step
toward becoming a driving force in the
use and analysis of the data and the
data sets we possess, and to formulate
appropriate policies in the fight
against drug abuse. The other reason
is that is we demonstrate our ability
to do this with a non-governmental
organization (NGO), which are vital
for us in Turkey. In other words, our
ability to share responsibilities, and
to organize, follow and share the data
sets for the formulation of policies
together. First of all, I would like
to thank the entire Green Crescent
community, most notably President
Prof. Mücahit Öztürk, for taking on
these responsibilities, and for sharing
this and trying to make it a part of the
society.”
Prof. Öztürk: “We can do useful
things with scientific data”
After the signing of the protocol,
Green
Crescent
Chairman
Prof.
Mücahit Öztürk said that they are
working towards achieving a healthy
society that is free of addictions:
“We can do useful things only with
scientific, evidence-based data. As
Green Crescent, we will benefit from
the obtained results, in that they let
us know what we are dealing with
where we should focus our efforts
before determining our methods
and areas of activity. We will be able
to be very precise about what we are
doing. Incoming information flows will
provide us with substantial support in
the creation of a map of addictions in
Turkey, which will determine the way
we fight and will also increase our
strength. Green Crescent speaks out
in all of the meetings it attends and in
front of the United Nations stressing
we need to treat all addictions and
addictive substances equally, that
prevention is the most important
approach, and that we should not
give up our fight against addiction.
National Green Crescent societies also
provide us with substantial support in
advocacy activities, both in their own
countries and in the international
community. This is a great source of
pride for us. We believe that the level
of cooperation between NGOs and
the public will be well demonstrated,
leading this project to be highly
beneficial. Again, I would like to thank
our Minister and everyone who has
contributed to this project.”
The Project for the
Determination of
Psychoactive Substances in
Wastewater aims to collect
scientific and evidence-
based numerical data for
the fight against drugs
through an examination
of wastewater. As part of
the fight against drugs,
comparisons with other
countries, supply trend
analyses, and development
and prevention studies will
be performed in light of the
obtained scientific data.
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