Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar University, participated in the “Addiction” talk held within the scope of the “Change with Informatics Project” organized by the Istanbul Anatolian Probation Directorate, affiliated with the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. During the talk, attended by offenders under probation, Tarhan stated that addiction is a brain disease and pointed out that it deteriorates a person's quality of life. Emphasizing that a person will not feel the need for substances when they find an area where they can make themselves happy, Tarhan highlighted the great importance of the feeling of internal control in addiction. Tarhan stated that the biggest reason for substance use in recent years is the search for pleasure and excitement among younger generations, and that people can also prefer substances as a stress reduction technique.
Many offenders under probation in the Istanbul Anatolian side attended the talk held at the Istanbul Anatolian Probation Directorate's Change with Informatics Education and Conference Hall. The administrative staff of the directorate, including Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor İdris Aksoy and Istanbul Anatolian Probation Director Seviyya Sancı, also attended the talk. The moderation of the talk was carried out by psychologist Nurdan Eyüpreisoğlu, a staff member of the directorate.
“Saying 'I quit whenever I want' does not mean one is not addicted”
Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, drawing attention to how addiction deteriorates a person's quality of life during the talk, said: “Addiction is a brain disease. A person had excessive mental preoccupation with this substance. That subject is always paramount in their life. Then there are unsuccessful attempts to quit. Those who want to quit but cannot, fail. There is dangerous use. Dangerous driving, driving while intoxicated. There is harmful use. For example, a person has had a stomach hemorrhage and should not drink, but still does. It also disrupts a person's daily life activities and quality of life. The loss of control in a person is enough to diagnose addiction. Usually, people say, 'I quit whenever I want, I am not addicted.' That ability to quit whenever they want does not mean they are not addicted.”
The most common reason for use in recent years is the search for pleasure and excitement…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing that children's social media use should be under parental supervision, stated: “Substance use generally starts in new generations mostly with the feeling of seeking pleasure and excitement. People use it as a stress reduction technique. Turkey has confirmed these statistics. It is also used under the influence of social media. Statistics regarding the increase in such use are particularly visible in early adolescence. Because at those ages, a child at the onset of adolescence values feelings more than reason in their mental world. They cannot 'Stop, think, act'. They easily believe their feelings and are easily influenced. In addition to social media's informative effect on society, its toxic effect also emerges. Especially if children use social media without parental supervision, it raises very serious questions about it. They act out of serious curiosity, and imitation and encouragement arise.”
“The brain is not satisfied with reward, it says 'more'”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that the reward system in the brains of addicted individuals is impaired: “There isn't only substance addiction. There are also behavioral addictions like gambling addiction. Especially after the pandemic, other technology and digital addictions, such as gaming addiction, have emerged. The reward system in the brain gets disrupted. We take brain mappings of addicted individuals. This can now be easily done with new technologies. Normally, the pathways of the brain's reward system in non-addicted individuals are like paths, whereas in addicted individuals, these pathways become like highways. Because it's like a highway, the brain is no longer satisfied with a simple reward; it wants more. That's why addiction is referred to as reward deficiency syndrome in psychiatric literature. The brain is not satisfied with the reward, it says 'more,' and then the liver gets damaged. In addicts who neglect themselves and don't pay attention to nutrition, the liver gets damaged. Long-term use causes brain damage. Addictive substances already create addiction by affecting the brain. Addictive substances are poisons to the body, they are neurotoxic. They poison the body and disrupt its mechanisms. When continuously taken, after a while, the brain accepts it as a need, desires it, seeks it. We bribe our brains, and when a person gets used to bribery, they ask it from everyone, just like that…”
“Behind substance users are mostly individuals who feel lonely”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan emphasized that individuals who feel lonely are prone to substance use: “Behind substance users are mostly individuals who feel lonely. This lonely person, for example, has quit substance use and is sitting in a park, feeling down about something. When one feels down, serotonin levels in the brain decrease, leading to a depressive state. Their need increases, consumption in the brain increases. When consumption increases, the level in the brain drops. When it drops, suppressed emotions surface, and the urge to seek substances immediately arises. At that moment, if that person has a parent from their family, or a therapist, or a mentor they know on the phone, they immediately call them, go to them, alleviate their loneliness, and find solutions a few times. At that moment, they stop using the substance. More accurately, at that moment, they don't feel the need to use the substance; they prevent it.”
“The feeling of internal control is very important in addiction…”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that a person will not feel the need for substances when they find an area where they can make themselves happy: “The feeling of internal control is very important in addiction. There is a 'captain's bridge' in the frontal region of the brain. In these individuals, internal control is impaired. Since internal control is impaired, external control is needed. If external control from therapists or family support is good, they provide support in some way, and the person can completely quit substance use. Also, some people can find areas where they can be happy without feeling the need for substances. When this happens, they quit substances, and this time they experience the pleasure of success that comes with quitting. In other words, if a person finds an area where they can be happy, they can easily avoid feeling the need to use substances.”
“True success is being able to say no to one's desires”
Tarhan stated that small successes increase dopamine in the brain: “When an addicted person has a craving, it is very difficult to cope with it, but achieving it is an incredible thing. That is, true success is being able to say no to one's desires. When a craving comes, one realizes why they should quit, the taste of quitting, not harming oneself, and the taste of achievement, if they experience it. All small successes increase dopamine in the brain. That is, instead of increasing dopamine with a fake, external dopamine-increasing substance, one increases the internal dopamine in our brain. You will put in effort, you will get tired, and you will activate that hidden treasure in our brain. You will be the most peaceful person, the happiest person. There are people who, even if you lay the world at their feet, can say no because they think of their future gains.”
“True happiness is happiness dependent on an internal cause…”
Tarhan stated that happiness dependent on an internal cause, rather than happiness dependent on an external cause, is true happiness: “People desire happiness dependent on external causes. They think, 'If I have this, I'll be happy; if I have that, I'll be happy.' However, true happiness is being happy dependent on an internal cause, being able to be happy with the small things one possesses, being able to be happy with ordinary things, starting to change the world from oneself, being able to improve oneself… When a person does this, they are at peace with themselves. In fact, this is called authentic happiness. For example, there is no exact equivalent for the word 'huzur' (serenity/peace of mind) in English. When you look it up in a dictionary, it comes out as 'peace.' But the word 'peace' doesn't quite capture it. The word 'huzur' exists in our language, with the meaning of inner peace, but we have lost it with new generations. Yet, it expresses a person being at peace with themselves. This authentic happiness means a person can be happy even if they are in prison, or they can find the same happiness even if they are on the beach.”
“People become happy when they make others happy”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that a person who can transcend themselves can be happy: “In positive psychology, there is the PERMA model. The first component of the PERMA model is being able to capture positive emotional states. That is, having a positive emotional state in every environment, finding the positive aspect of an event even if it initially seems negative. The second is capturing the feeling of flow. If you get absorbed in a task and don't realize how two or three hours have passed, if you have such an occupation, you can find happiness again. Third, have good human relationships. Good social relationships protect a person from addiction. That's why relationships are very important. The other is a state of meaning. One will put in effort, get tired. What kind of person do you become when you reach the end of your life? In life right now, a person who only works for themselves is sufficient as evil. A person who has reached a certain point also has a debt to their society. They have a debt to humanity, to the universe, to the Creator. A person who can transcend themselves becomes happy. People become happy when they make others happy.”
“The difficulties we experienced in the past are a treasure trove of experience”
Tarhan stated that people who pursue a purpose will not easily turn to substance use: “The difficulties, sorrows, and traumas we experienced in the past are a treasure trove of experience for us. The past is capital, today is a gift, and the future is an investment. Therefore, you should have capital, just as you manage a company, or a financial institution. You will manage today's capital as if managing a future investment. First, you will determine your purpose. The word 'iktisat' (economy) comes from the Arabic root 'maksat' (purpose). If you are going to economize, if you are going to manage an economy, you will first determine your purpose. A person with a purpose will not easily turn to substances. A person with a purpose derives pleasure as they strive for that purpose.”
Following the talk, Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor İdris Aksoy presented a plaque to Tarhan.