Guest of the Ailece program broadcast on TRT Radyo1, Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, made evaluations regarding the topic of “Increasing Addiction in the Elderly.” Tarhan stated that the Covid-19 pandemic caused an increase in addiction among the elderly; “With the announcement of the 2020 report by the United Nations (UN) International Narcotics Control Board, we observed that the Covid-19 pandemic caused an increase in addiction among the elderly. This result surprised us greatly. There are three main pillars in the reason for drug use. The first is to seek pleasure, the second is to reduce stress, and the third is to resort to substances as a result of loneliness,” he said.
“What is important in the fight against drugs is to reduce demand”
Tarhan made evaluations regarding the issue of addiction following the announcement of the 2020 Report by the UN International Narcotics Control Board; “The International Narcotics Control Board in Vienna consists of individuals selected by the representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs at the UN. There is an established board. The members of that board are independent from various countries. In other words, they are not country representatives; they are elected independently. Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy was elected to this board with 57 votes. She also serves concurrently as a faculty member at Üsküdar University. The UN International Narcotics Control Board 2020 Report, based on analyses from all countries, showed that addiction globally has two legs: supply and demand. That is, illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine are supplied to the market by clandestine groups. They are sold through smuggling, which is illegal. If you don't control this, it passes easily through customs. In this regard, the most successful country in the world is Afghanistan, the second is Iran, and the third is Turkey. We are very successful in controlling this supply, but it is also necessary to control demand. People, young people, and the elderly demand drugs. Where there is supply, demand, and need, those with money obtain it. For example, in the USA, the per capita gross national product was 20,000 dollars in 2050 (hypothetically from original text, seems to be a typo in Turkish, likely 1950), then precisely in 2000, with a 50-year difference, it became 35,000 dollars. Now it is even more. There is a lot of money, and people want pleasure. They obtain it. There is such a situation. Therefore, the fight against supply is not just about catching; that only increases the price. Demand must also be reduced. This is the drug control part. What is important is to reduce demand. This has dimensions of protection, prevention, and treatment,” he said.
“R&D studies should be conducted to reduce drug demand”
Continuing his remarks, Tarhan touched upon the treatment aspect in the fight against drugs; “The treatment aspect is currently being successfully carried out as a clinical case all over the world. In the treatment phase, we admit individuals to the hospital, then the addicted patient undergoes detoxification and is cleaned. But the patient takes it again after a week. What needs to be done to prevent this? What needs to be done to prevent people from feeling demand or need? Research is required on this matter. As a university, this is already one of our fields. It is a topic that is our R&D focus. There are two addiction-related institutes in Turkey. One is at İzmir Dokuz Eylül University, and the other is at Üsküdar University. In the fight against addiction, it is necessary to successfully treat the relevant patients and prevent relapse. Patients admitted to the hospital may be readmitted 5-10 times a year. We need to find a treatment such that even reducing these patients' admissions to once a year would be a huge gain. Currently, an independent institute beyond the ministry related to narcotics has been established. It makes decisions and is managed. In such an organizational form, the USA is trying to take such measures,” he said.
“The Covid-19 pandemic increased addiction in the elderly”
Tarhan drew attention to the issue of increasing addiction in the elderly during the Covid-19 pandemic; “Drug use among the elderly increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was very interesting, very strange. There are three main pillars in the reason for drug use. When we investigate the question 'Why do users use?', first, people use it for pleasure, hedonistically, that is, those pursuing pleasure, for delight and enjoyment. Normal entertainment does not satisfy them. Even if they drink alcohol, it does not satisfy them; they want cocaine. They are satisfied with that. However, cocaine is such that when you take the first dose, it is necessary to gradually increase the dose. To catch the same pleasure, the dose increases, and this time the substance enslaves the person. The person becomes a slave to the substance, selling everything for it. They sell their home, their family, everything in a destructive way. Because the brain now sees it as the most important issue. This is now the highest level of addiction, a state of captivity. At this point in addiction, it becomes pleasure. The person cannot even lead a normal life, or have normal sexuality, without taking drugs. They are so addicted that they want to live every day, continuously. One group cannot even live normally. They start taking drugs to be normal. They use pleasure to be normal,” he said.
“Passive suicides increased in old age”
Tarhan pointed out that the second group consists of those who use substances as a stress reduction technique, saying, “For example, if a person has problems at work, or issues with their spouse or family, they see the substance as an escape. In fact, turning to alcohol is an escape. It is an escape from reality. Instead of working hard and thinking to address and solve their problems, they seek refuge in substances. They start to see that as a safe space. They come home drunk and make it a way of life. If they don't come home drunk, a fight breaks out at home. There are also artists who use substances saying, 'It enhances my performance,' and while it may increase performance for a while, they later become addicted. These are generally people who seek shortcuts, not normal ways. They use it to reduce stress, to increase performance, and then they become enslaved to the substance. This is the second group. In the third group, there is loneliness. Covid-19 particularly increased this among the elderly. When an elderly person is left alone, they say, 'What should I do? Living like this has no meaning; if I'm going to be like this in five years, I might as well die now.' They either commit suicide or, if they cannot find the strength to commit suicide, they resort to what we call passive suicide, giving themselves over to substances, becoming bound. Every day, with substances and alcohol, they slowly die. We call that passive suicide. This has started to happen a lot in old age,” he stated.
“The intellectual level of people today is high”
Continuing his evaluations on addiction in the elderly, Tarhan said; “In Japan, a ministry of loneliness was established on March 3rd because suicides increased. England established one in 2018. You see their elderly at home, enslaved to substances. Japanese people are a nation devoted to their honor. They die directly without getting drunk and damaging their honor. They also don't have a belief in an afterlife. They think they return to nature, or if there are those who believe in reincarnation, which is generally not the case, they think of reincarnation. Such situations are periods when humans search for the meaning of life. What is the meaning of life? Why are we here? Why do we live? For example, Tolstoy, saying 'I am looking for a meaning that death cannot change,' decided to come to Istanbul in the last period of his life, and later his letters about the Prophet Muhammad were compiled into a book. That is, he believed in it. To such an extent that he found monotheism. Intelligent people are not like old people. Today's people have a high intellectual level; they think, question, criticize, and observe,” he said.
“Death is not an end”
Tarhan continued his speech as follows:
“There is a great memory in the universe. This can only be a single God. It is a work that requires absolute will, absolute power, absolute wisdom, and absolute intelligence. People are looking for the answer to the question, 'Why is the world so bad, why is it not fair?' The answer to this question has been found. The answer to this question is: Life is not just about this earthly life. The common point where everyone unites, where everyone is equal, is the life in the grave. The only situation where all living beings are equal is death. Therefore, death must have a meaning other than this world. This means that death is not the end, not a finish. Death is just a transition from one energy band to another. What we call matter is actually a concentration of energy. What we call death is moving from this garden to that garden. That's why it's always called demonization, for example. You see that in all holy books, we see the devil as an enemy. There are two paths. There is a path planned and desired by the devil, and there is a path desired by the Merciful. If we consider this, the devil was created from fire. He wants everything close to him to come to fire. If a person is not in an understanding suitable for the meaning of the existence of the Creator of the universe, then they will have chosen the other path, not that one. The devil also enjoys the life he lives in his own way, just as a snake enjoys poisoning. Therefore, two paths flow. We will decide which one to be on with our free will. Because we have been given free will. Having free will means having the freedom to defy the Creator.”
“People who use their minds should have a high level of faith”
Tarhan stated that the universe is logical within itself; “In the Holy Quran, when Allah Almighty narrates the story of the creation of Prophet Adam, He says, ‘I created someone named Adam, prostrate before him, he is superior to you.’ All the angels say okay, but they are surprised and object. More precisely, they ask, ‘Why did you create him?’ For example, angels ask questions to the Creator. I see a child who cannot ask questions to their mother or father, they are afraid. You cannot ask questions to a manager in a company, you are afraid. This means that the beauty Allah desires is not this. It is to be able to talk and discuss everything. Since angels could ask Allah, we too will be able to ask. Since there is an earthly order, we have the right and the mind to say you are doing wrong. In conclusion, the universe is very logical within itself, and death is meaningful. Death is not an end, not a finish. Therefore, no one should be afraid of death. Now, people who use their minds, instead of committing suicide or becoming addicted, should say that there is a power that knows everything and creates everything, and thus have a high level of faith,” he recorded.
“The need for secure attachment is the primary remedy for security”
At the end of his remarks, Tarhan touched upon therapy modules; “There are also therapies in therapy modules. Currently, one of the meta-cognitive treatments is for a person to believe in a higher power. This could be a belief in guardian angels, but someone who believes in a higher power feels secure, feels their future is secure. The need for secure attachment is the primary remedy for security. When a child is securely attached to their parents, they stop using substances. This is even true for animals. These are done in animal experiments. Rat experiments, for example. They make rats addicted to cocaine. The animal dies of pleasure by pressing the pedal. When they are placed in their natural, social environment, the animal stops pressing that pedal. This means that the science of happiness elevates social intelligence, socialization. If a person has a social environment where they feel secure, they do not become addicted to substances or fall into depression. Because humans are relational beings. Human nature requires this. Currently, sociologists regret having broken up families. The support provided by extended families used to protect young people. Therefore, we are more fortunate in this regard,” he said.