Addictions are a Major Public Health Issue

She stated that this week is an important week especially in the fight against addictions and that all the trainings held during this week are meaningful in creating the necessary awareness about addictions.
 
YESİLAY, one of the most rooted non-governmental organizations in Turkey, aims to raise awareness of the individuals who make up the society to stay away from addictions and to have a healthy life by combating five types of addiction (tobacco, alcohol, substance, gambling and technology).
 
YESİLAY, under the auspices of the then Şeyhülislam İbrahim Haydarizade, in order to prevent the occupation forces from spreading alcohol and drugs in our society and destroying the spirit of struggle against the occupation during and after the First World War. By Mazhar Osman Uzman and his friends Courtesy of Sultan Vahdeddin, March 5, 1920' was established in Istanbul under the name of "Hilal-i Ahdar".
The dates of 1 - 7 March, when the YESİLAY was established, are celebrated as the YESİLAY week in our country.
As the types of addictions have increased since its establishment, the working areas of the YESİLAY have also diversified in its charter, and after alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, gambling and recently technology addiction have been included in the YESİLAY's field of struggle.
 
What is addiction and how does it occur?
 
Dependence; It is a table formed by many factors coming together; Negative parental attitudes exhibited during the upbringing of children, having a history of addiction in any of the family members, wrong choice of friends, low academic achievement, and the society's perspective on addiction can be counted as just a few of the factors that may pose a risk.
For this reason, when talking about the formation process of addiction, one should examine the individual from childhood and even infancy; It would be correct to evaluate the process as a whole, taking into account family, social and cultural characteristics.
 "Dependence; It is the loss of control over a substance, alcohol, object or behavior (action) that a person uses. Any substance or behavior performed uncontrollably carries the risk of addiction. Therefore, individuals can be dependent on many things in life. According to the Turkey Anti-Addiction (TBM) Training Program, addiction is the loss of control over an object that a person uses or an action she takes.
 
 
Psychological and biological factors in the individual affect the addiction process. The person may first want to try the use with a sense of curiosity and fear. It is used with the thought that nothing will happen at once with curiosity.
Addiction affects the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. dopamine; It is involved in many basic functional processes such as thought, feeling, motivation, movement, attention and decision making.
Depending on the substance used, frequency of use, duration of use, Although it varies according to the type of substance used, as a result of the damage to the dopamine hormone due to the use process, the brain begins to not work properly and addiction occurs.
Therefore, we can consider addiction as a brain disease. As stated by the American Psychiatric Association, some changes occur in the structure and functions of the brain in the case of addiction.
Depending on these changes, the person's mood, thoughts and behaviors are impaired.
Brain imaging studies; It shows that there are problems due to addiction, especially in areas of the brain related to judgment, decision making, learning, memory and behavioral control.
As stated by the American Psychiatric Association, some changes occur in the structure and functions of the brain in the case of addiction.
Depending on these changes, the person's mood, thoughts and behaviors are impaired. Brain imaging studies; It shows that there are problems due to addiction, especially in areas of the brain related to judgment, decision making, learning, memory and behavioral control.
As stated by the American Psychiatric Association, some changes occur in the structure and functions of the brain in the case of addiction. Depending on these changes, the person's mood, thoughts and behaviors are impaired.
 Brain imaging studies; It shows that there are problems due to addiction, especially in areas of the brain related to judgment, decision making, learning, memory and behavioral control.
 
CYCLE OF ADDICTION

 
Addiction should be divided into two as dependent personality and dependent behavior. Dependent personality is a personality type that is attached to another object, person or something and thinks that they cannot live without it. Dependent behavior, on the other hand, is the behavior shown by people who are addicted to a certain type of behavior, a certain action, that is, who want to do it constantly and want to do it more and more.
 
What are the symptoms of addiction?
 
Constantly wanting to do the same behavior is one of the biggest symptoms of addiction. If we think of it as addictive behavior, constantly wanting to smoke is a sign of addiction. Dependent people gradually develop these characteristics and expand their tolerance limits. Therefore, they need to drink more and more. Generally, withdrawal symptoms regarding substance abuse or smoking addiction are: Anxiety, irritability, irritability, rapid breathing, sweating in the hands.
 
Which parental attitudes pave the way for substance/alcohol/cigarette use?
 
Unable to set boundaries, oppressive parental attitudes, parents who do not know where and with whom their children are doing, parents who set too many limits but put too much pressure on them. So both extremes are actually harmful in terms of addiction. The child needs to know the limits. He needs to know what he is doing and why. But in some cases, boundaries need to be stretched.
 
 
 
 
Is addiction curable?
 
When we look at it as an addicted personality, it is a little more difficult to treat, but it is not impossible. When we consider it as addictive behavior, it is of course possible. If a person has any addiction, he must somehow get rid of this addiction, make an effort, and above all, not lose hope. So addiction is not destiny. Therefore, people can get rid of addiction if they want and give the necessary struggle. While it is a little easier for the person to cope with the dependent behavior, dependent personalities may need psychological support.
 
    It is important to stay away from healthy lifestyle behaviors and addictions in the protection and development of public health. It is our priority to provide preventive health services, especially in child and adolescent health; It should be our main goal that young people never start these habits. In this context, family, school and public education should be given importance and necessary counseling should be given to families, especially in Family Health Centers where primary health care services are provided.
 
 
Source:  https://hsgm.saglik.gov.tr
              ​​https://www.yesilay.org.tr