Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that addiction is drawing attention as a growing global problem today, adding that gambling addiction, in particular, has significantly increased in Türkiye, rising to the top among addictions.
Highlighting the widespread transition to substances like cannabis and cocaine in drug use, Prof. Tarhan said, “We can say that there is a new chemical war. Addiction is a global threat. A quantity of some substances as small as a grain of powdered sugar can kill a person.” Emphasizing that the fight against addiction should strengthen not only its medical but also its psychological dimension, Prof. Tarhan stated that giving meaning to life plays a critical role in moving away from addiction.
President of Üsküdar University, Chairman of the Board of NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan made statements about increasing addiction types in Türkiye and the world, especially gambling and substance use, their societal impacts, and treatment approaches.
“Türkiye is being targeted with gambling and substances!”
Reminding that addiction is a serious problem, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said, “Currently, unlike in other parts of the world, gambling addiction is extremely common in Türkiye, even ranking first. It has surpassed alcohol and substance addiction.”
Stating that Türkiye is one of the countries where cocaine is used the most compared to other countries, Prof. Tarhan said, “This substance is marketed at a lower cost in Türkiye. This situation facilitates access to the substance, increasing the risk of addiction. There are ongoing projects in this direction. Türkiye is being targeted with gambling and substances.”
“Addiction is a global threat!”
Giving examples of how the phenomenon of addiction has been used in different ways throughout history, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said:
“In history, the British accustomed the Chinese to opium to defeat them. This is called the Opium Wars. With this policy pursued by the British, substance addiction became widespread in China, and social collapse occurred. However, China learned its lesson and keeps a tight grip on substance issues. But this time, there are allegations that they are trading fentanyl, a substance of which a quantity as small as a grain of powdered sugar can kill a person. Fentanyl is also the substance frequently encountered on social media that causes people to move like zombies. A very large portion of those who use this substance also lose their lives. We can say that there is a new chemical war. Addiction is a global threat and is steered by global capital owners.”
To give up substance use, life needs to be given meaning!
Pointing out that cannabis use has also seriously increased, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said, “After a while, addicts become satisfied with cannabis, and if they have the means, they switch to cocaine. An increase in meth use has also been observed in recent years.”
Stating that addiction should be handled specifically and addiction-focused studies should be carried out, Prof. Tarhan concluded his words by saying, “In treatment, the aim should be to develop individuals’ perception of harm and awareness of consequences. After treatment, it should be questioned whether this awareness has formed. When doing this, it is necessary to use positive psychology 2.0. Because most of the substances used are for ‘stress reduction.’ Some use it because they cannot cope with pain, some from a void of meaning. Classic positive psychotherapy alone may be weak. Individuals’ lives need to be given meaning. Only then can they give up substance use.”
