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Reminding that the Fighting Addiction
EducationProgramfor Turkey is citedas a “Best
Practice” in the EMCDDA report, Işık said that
Green Crescent is honored to be considered
an opinion leader by NGOs operating with
similar goals around the world, thanks to its
effective and exemplary operations: “With its
century-old experience, Green Crescent has a
say and acts as an opinion leader not only in
the national arena, but also internationally.
Its status as an active organization with
networks in 52 countries around the world
that shares its experience with other NGOs is
the most important indicator of its function
as an opinion leader. Our effective works and
exemplary projects have resulted in us being
seen as an opinion leader by NGOs working
toward similar goals around the world. Today’s
Istanbul Initiative meeting is an indicator of
our position in the global platform.”
“The Declaration is a very important step”
Speakingaboutthedeclaration,whichidentifies
the strategic actions to be taken in all countries
engaged in the fight against addiction, Işık
said, “In addition to social and psychological
reasons, the existence and effect of some
industrialized forces should be accepted as a
driving force in the increase of drug addiction.
The problem has a multidimensional nature.
When they return to their countries, the NGOs
need to address the issue at the level of the
United Nations and with such international
health organizations as the World Health
Organization (WHO). They should consider this
fight as a broad platform on which they need
to cooperate with the governmental agencies
and police forces in their own countries. The
Istanbul Initiative Declaration covers such
principles and recommendations.”
“Diversity of drugs is increasing in Europe”
Referring to the 2019 Drug Report by the
European Monitoring Center for Drugs and
Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Işık pointed out that
diversity of drugs in Europe has increased: “The
reporthighlightstheprevalenceofpolydruguse
among drug users. The prevalence of cannabis,
as the most widely used drug in Europe, is
about five times higher than other substances.
As of the end of 2018, more than 730 new
psychoactive substances have been reported
worldwide, 55 of which were identified for the
first time in 2018 in Europe. Unfortunately,
Turkey is a transit country between Europe and
the Middle East, and is thus a key crossroads
for the trafficking of drugs in many categories
from the East to the West. As Green Crescent,
we are the largest supporter of our youth and
their families, being involved in the prevention
of addiction and the rehabilitation of addicts,
and supporting their reintegration into society.
ISTANBUL INITIATIVE
1
st
Assembly, Istanbul, 12-13 June 2019
DECLARATION
1. The vast majority of the global population
does not use illicit drugs and wants to live in
communities free from drug-related harm,
such as addiction. This silent majority
supports drug prevention and investments
in youth and other vulnerable populations
to promote healthy behavior, norms
and environments to reach health and
development for all.
2. We,
the
representatives
of
the
undersigned international and regional civil
society organizations,
3. Recognize that the use of alcohol, tobacco,
narcotic drugs and other psychotropic
substances causes health, social and
economic harms to people, families,
communities and societies at large and thus
threatens sustainable development.
4. Concerned with the health and welfare
of humanity, having convened at the first
assembly of the Istanbul Initiative to
consider enhanced and urgent action to
address the world drug problem, including
substance and behavioral addictions;
5. Emphasize that reducing drug use
prevalence and keeping it low it is the
best prevention. Preventing harm from
occurring is themost cost-effective, humane
and sustainable way to reduce substance
use disorders, saving lives, strengthening
communities, promoting public health,
sustainable human development and
decreasing interrelated problems.
6. Recognize that drug policies must be
Human Rights-based, gender-sensitive, and
age appropriate;
7. Affirm the importance of creating
recovery-oriented systems of care that
provide
comprehensive
interventions,
ranging from early intervention to harm
reduction,
rehabilitation
and
social
reintegration with the goal of supporting
people with substance use disorders to
reach their full potential.
8. Recognize that substance use problems
don’t only affect the individual user but
also adversely impact their partners,
parents, siblings and children; therefore
comprehensive support services for the
family and people around the user are
critical to prevent harm and facilitate
resilient families.
9. Affirm the importance of comprehensive
community-wide action to curb drug
problems as a common and shared
responsibility requiring an integrated
and evidence-based approach to change
policies, practices and systems on all levels
through community involvement;
10. Painfully aware of the destructive impact
of the alcohol and tobacco industries we
are deeply concerned with the emergence
of a new industry that promotes drug
use for private profit, causing substantial
harms especially to vulnerable groups and
societies at large.
11. Deeply concerned that this new industry
is able to change the narrative, shape
public policy and influence governments,
international organizations and civil society
for their economic gains, against the public
interest.
12. Call on all people, especially families,
political, cultural, religious, civic, health,
educational, youth, sports, and business
leaders, and the media to get involved in the
efforts to change social norms, reduce drug
availability, and build healthy societies;
13. Call
on
governments
and
the
international community to pursue a
balanced approach between demand
reduction, supply reduction and law
enforcement, and to invest in prevention,
treatment and health services, to achieve
international peace and security, and the
health of nations;
14.Call on governments to invest in health
promoting environments to achieve health,
well-being and development for all;
15. Declare our commitment to collaborate
worldwide in support of grass-roots
participation in global policy process and to
amplify the voices of the silent majority.
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