İstanbul Rumeli University's Mehmet Balcı Campus hosted the "Approach to Dependent Individuals" training organized by the Addiction Combat Commission on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, as part of the Green Crescent Week.
The event featured speakers Uzman Psikolog Burcu Sevim TOKAT and Klinik Psikolog Berna BALTACI from the Silivri Green Crescent Counseling Center, offering significant awareness on combating addiction for adults, youth, and families. The seminar aimed to enable young people to combat addiction more consciously and make healthy decisions.
Uzman Psikolog Burcu Sevim TOKAT addressed the concept of addiction, stating, "Once a person becomes addicted to a substance/alcohol, they lose their willpower. Withdrawal symptoms emerge when they do not use it and they have to cope with these symptoms. Sometimes, even if they want to quit, they continue using the substance just to suppress withdrawal symptoms."
TOKAT emphasized that addiction is a process, starting from experimentation, leading to regular use, and resulting in dependency. She explained, "Addiction is a brain disease. Initially, the brain craves pleasure from the substance, but later it cannot stop even if it doesn't derive pleasure anymore. Our brain craves the substance even if we don't want it. The development of addiction varies based on factors such as the type of substance, its purity, duration of use, and the user's personality traits."
Discussing addiction diagnosis and criteria, TOKAT highlighted that the presence of specific symptoms at least three times within a year is sufficient for an addiction diagnosis. Symptoms include frequency of substance or alcohol use, experiencing withdrawal symptoms when ceasing use, giving up activities due to substance use, and negative effects on personal, social, and occupational life.
TOKAT also emphasized the importance of family in the process, stating that family members play a critical role in the individual's fight against addiction through their attitudes and behaviors. She concluded by encouraging families to provide emotional support, research treatment options, recognize and inform about relapse signs, support participation in rehabilitation, and organize leisure activities.
Klinik Psikolog Berna BALTACI highlighted the significance of YEDAM (New Addiction Combat Center) in combating addictions such as tobacco, alcohol, drugs, internet, and gambling by providing free psychological and social support. Additionally, they support families in rebuilding their lifestyles. BALTACI elaborated on the YEDAM workshop, aiming to engage clients in productive activities, keep them away from risky environments, and provide vocational training, all to help clients remain within the treatment system.
