Istanbul: A three-day program to strengthen global cooperation in the fight against addiction began Wednesday at the Turkish Green Crescent Society's headquarters in Istanbul. The 8th International Capacity Building Program was organized by the International Federation of Green Crescent (IFGC), an umbrella organization for Country Green Crescents founded under the leadership of Trkiye's Green Crescent.
According to Anadolu Agency, the program, taking place from April 30 to May 2, will bring together around 120 participants from 60 countries. Over three days, representatives from various global organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Eurocare will collaborate to develop a joint strategy on addiction prevention.
On the first day of the event, Mehmet Dinc, president of the Turkish Green Crescent Society, noted a rise in both chemical and behavioral addictions. "Along with Green Crescents in countries that share our mission, we must extinguish this global crisis," he said. Dinc highlighted the severity of the issue by stating, "We lose more (lives) to addiction each year than to wars," and expressed gratitude to the Country Green Crescents members, calling them "heroes without capes."
The UNODC's World Drug Report in 2024, based on 2022 data, reveals that 292 million people worldwide used drugs in 2022, marking a 20% increase over the past decade. Cannabis was the most used drug, followed by opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy. The report also underscores the influence of 'transnational organized crime groups' in tri-border areas like the Golden Triangle, expanding their activities from drug trafficking to wildlife trafficking, illegal resource extraction, and financial fraud.
Audi Kongila Muhammad, president of the Green Crescent Health Development Initiative from the Nigeria Green Crescent, shared insights as the second keynote speaker. He remarked, "COVID-19 separated us, but now we are meeting in person at this event to share knowledge and fight against this 'monster' called addiction."
Esbjorn Hornberg, executive director of Movendi International and chair of the Istanbul Initiative, emphasized the necessity of cooperation for sustainable addiction prevention globally. He stated that "Prevention of addictions must be systematic, inclusive, and sustainable," and stressed resisting commercialization while advocating for more public health institutions. Hornberg added that 'a unified international movement for prevention' is crucial.
The International Federation of Green Crescent (IFGC), founded in 2016 and based in Istanbul, unites 97 Country Green Crescents to combat addictions worldwide. Established in 1920, the Turkish Green Crescent is a non-profit, non-governmental organization aiming to empower youth and adults with factual information about drugs to help them make informed decisions against addictions such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and gambling. It operates through 24 branches and 64 representatives across Trkiye.