As part of Üsküdar University’s 2025–2026 Academic Year Orientation Days, one of Türkiye’s and the world’s most distinguished forensic scientists, Prof. Sevil Atasoy, delivered a conference titled “Fighting Addiction.” Prof. Atasoy stated, “Addiction is a treatable, chronic brain disease,” emphasizing that the entire medical community, including the World Health Organization, recognizes addiction as a brain disorder. She noted that this chronic condition can relapse and, if left uncontrolled, may lead to fatal consequences.
Offering practical advice to students, Prof. Atasoy said, “Stay away from places where you suspect drugs might be present. Learn to say ‘no’ to anything offered to you, whether in your most difficult or your happiest moments.”
Within the scope of Üsküdar University’s 2025–2026 Academic Year Orientation Days, Prof. Sevil Atasoy, Chair of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Vice Rector of Üsküdar University, Head of the Department of Forensic Sciences, and Director of the Graduate School of Addiction and Forensic Sciences, gave the “Conference on Fighting Addiction.” The conference, held at the Main Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall, was also followed in hybrid format from the NP Health Campus Ibn Sina Auditorium and the Çarşı Campus Emin Nebi Hall.
Prof. Atasoy began her talk by greeting the students with “Hello, welcome,” and said that Üsküdar University would be a home where they would spend the most enjoyable years of their lives. She encouraged them to have a successful four years and make the most of this period, adding that those who pursue double majors or continue with master’s or doctoral programs will maintain their ties to the university.
Addressing drug use and addiction as a global issue affecting all age groups, Prof. Atasoy emphasized the necessity and growing importance of combating addiction, noting that it is not merely a modern problem. She explained that humans have been using plants for various purposes for tens of thousands of years.
International agreements and control mechanisms
Explaining that no country could combat this epidemic alone, Prof. Atasoy said international cooperation began in the early 1900s. She noted that the three major international conventions from 1961, 1971, and 1988, which Türkiye has also signed, form the foundation of the global fight against addiction. These treaties address both supply and demand and stipulate that controlled substances such as cannabis, cocaine, morphine, heroin, LSD, and methamphetamine should be used only for scientific and medical purposes.
Prof. Atasoy also stated that there is a 13-member monitoring body, the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board, responsible for overseeing the implementation of these treaties, and that she currently serves as its president.
Current situation and new threats
Prof. Atasoy pointed out that substance addiction remains a serious issue today. Some countries impose imprisonment or even the death penalty on drug users, yet addiction rates remain high. She highlighted the dangers of fentanyl, a substance 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin, which has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths in the United States in recent years.
“Even an amount as small as the head of a pin can paralyze and kill a person,” she said, warning that fentanyl is now spreading toward Eastern European countries and poses a global threat. Prof. Atasoy noted that focusing solely on supply control, such as arresting dealers or strengthening customs inspections, is insufficient because smugglers use astonishing methods like submarines to transport drugs. “If there is demand for a product, people will inevitably find it, or seek and use something similar,” she added.
Addiction is a treatable, chronic brain disease
Prof. Sevil Atasoy explained that until the Middle Ages and even into the early 20th century, addiction was regarded as a “moral issue,” and those suffering from it were often accused of immorality. However, she emphasized that this perception has changed over time, and today addiction is defined as “a medical condition characterized by repeated substance use despite harmful consequences.”
Prof. Atasoy stated, “Addiction is a treatable, chronic brain disease,” noting that the entire medical community, including the World Health Organization, recognizes addiction as a brain disorder. She added that this chronic illness can relapse and, if left untreated, may lead to fatal outcomes.
Global drug use is increasing
Despite ongoing global efforts, Prof. Atasoy pointed out that drug use continues to rise worldwide. “There are, of course, many reasons for this increase. Poverty, unemployment, and lack of education are among the leading factors. High levels of stress, wars, and other challenges push people to seek solutions, sometimes to sleep less, work more, go longer without eating, or simply to forget their troubles,” she said.
Stating that around 316 million people worldwide used drugs last year, Prof. Atasoy noted, “This corresponds to about 6 percent of the global population aged 15 to 64; in other words, 6 out of every 100 people in this age group have used at least one substance. The actual number is likely higher, as statistics often exclude those under 15 and over 64, even though substance use exists in those age groups as well. Last year, approximately 244 million of these users consumed cannabis, making it the number one substance used globally. Although there is a perception that cannabis has been legalized in some countries, the truth is that its use is not unconditionally or unrestrictedly legal in any country.”
The danger begins in the womb
Prof. Atasoy explained that cannabis is followed by synthetic opioids, natural opiates, amphetamines, and cocaine. “Nine out of ten addicts began using substances before the age of 21. This is extremely dangerous. Why? Because if prevention and awareness efforts are to be effective, they must begin well before that age. Ninety percent of addicts start much younger during high school, middle school, or even elementary school. And if, for example, a mother used substances while pregnant, the danger begins right there, as the child starts life already exposed to risk,” she said.
Emphasizing that university years are a turning point and that decisions made during this period can profoundly affect one’s health, education, career, and family life, Prof. Atasoy added: “You must make the right choices now. How will you do that? First and foremost, you need to learn to say no. Alcohol, without question, is among the most harmful substances in society. Fortunately, alcohol consumption in Türkiye has not yet reached the levels seen in Western countries or certain other regions.”
Antidepressant addiction is a widespread problem
Prof. Sevil Atasoy noted that there are many different chemical and natural substances classified as “illegal drugs,” whose use, production, and distribution are restricted. “A wide range of substances, from mushroom or plant-derived compounds to synthetically produced powders in laboratories, can cause addiction in humans. Moreover, addiction is not limited to illegal drugs: dependency can also develop on prescription medications. The misuse and addiction associated with prescribed drugs such as antidepressants, anxiolytics, and sleeping pills have become a widespread problem. In Türkiye, particularly among women, prescription drug addiction holds a significant place alongside substances like cannabis, heroin, or synthetic drugs. Problems such as sharing prescribed medication with friends, using drugs without a prescription, smuggling, and the circulation of counterfeit drugs still exist. For this reason, ensuring the proper use of medications and increasing public awareness are of great importance,” she said.
Anything that takes over the brain’s reward system can cause addiction
Prof. Atasoy stated that behavioral addictions such as excessive use of social media (spending six to seven hours a day on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok) also negatively affect work, education, daily life, and health. “Anything that takes over the brain’s reward system can cause addiction. Even food can be addictive,” she said, underlining the broad scope of the issue.
What causes addiction?
Addressing the question, “Could I become addicted?” Prof. Atasoy explained that there is no single cause of addiction. “There are many risk factors, including genetic predisposition, substance use within the family, peer influence, and social acceptance,” she noted.
Learn to say no to what is offered to you
At the end of her conference, Prof. Atasoy gave students some concrete advice: “Stay away from environments where you suspect drugs might be present,” she said, drawing attention to the risks of passive exposure. “Make friends who don’t use drugs, and encourage those who do to seek professional help, by doing so, you might save a life. Learn to say ‘no’ to something offered to you, whether in your hardest or happiest moments. Learn how to cope with stress. Sports, simple exercises, walking, breathing techniques, and listening to music all help reduce stress. In short, protect your brain because addiction is a brain disease. Health is the most valuable treasure.”