Drug Abuse

TURKISH MONITORING CENTER FOR DRUGS ANI) DRUG ADDICTION (TUBÎM)

TUBIM is the national coordination center in charge of preparing counter drug strategies and action plans based on the data which is collected by different govemment agencies. Another duty of the center is to ensure the collaboration among various agencies, including NG0s, in the field of drugs. TUBIM works in cooperation with all agencies, both public and private, as well as universities and non-governmental organizations active in the field of addictive substances and substance addiction.

1. ACTIVITIES PERFORMED IN COOPERATION WITH EMCDDA

TUBIM is also the national focal point of the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), an institution of the European Union. TUBIM is actively involved in monitoring and coordination within the framework of its responsibilities resulting from its position as the National Focal Point.

In this respect, 'TUBIM published the first 'National Drug Report' in 2006 covering a multi-dimensional approach in close cooperation with all responsible agencies. Another report based on data and review of 2007 was enacted in cooperation with EMCDDA. These two reports gathered common data of agencies and presented in a structured national review.

In addition, the Intemational Agreement for Turkey's accession to EMCDDA work was signed in Brussels. Upon full accession of TUB1M to EMCDDA activities scientific work of these agencies were prepared also in Turkish, which are accessible on the EMCDDA's official web site ( europa.eu.)

Furthermore, Turkey started to participate in the board of directors meetings of EMCDDA, being the body for data collection, analysis, policy and strategy making for drugs in Europe, as active member and nomination for membership to EMCDDA scientific board is now open for Turkey.

TUBIM Library and Documentation Center

TUBIM Library and Documentation Center', in other words our Narcotics Library was launched on March 27111, 2007 as the first-time in our region and in our country for the objective of being scientific reference point to all units and persons working on and combating drugs.

FONTE Training
Fonte is the name of the software acting as the interface for exchange of infonnation between EMCDDA and national focal points. Within the framework of cooperation with EMCDDA, the drugs monitoring body of the European Union, the REITOX Fonte Users Workshop was organized in Ankara on July 5-6`11, 2007 with participation of 50 delegates from EMCDDA member states.

2. TUBÎM IN THE EU'S 2007 PROGRESS REPORT

In its Progress Report for the last year, DG for Enlargement of the European Commission provides the following evaluation in review of Turkey's harmonization efforts with the Union:

'Progress has been made in the area of fight against drugs. A National Strategy was adopted in November 2006 in line with the EU Drug Strategy and EU Drug Action Plan 2005-2012. Human Resources of the National Reitox Focal Point were strengthened. A drug information and documentation center became operational. Turkey submitted the first national report to the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). The adoption of an action plan to implement the New Strategy on Drugs and the improvement of drug demand reduction and data collection remain key issues. Reinforcing the human resources of the National Reitox Focal point is of importance.*

3. SOME OF 'THE PREVENTIVE 'TRAINING ACTIVITES OF TUBiM

Training on Countering Substance Abuse

Was held on 5-16 March 2007 under coordination of TUBiM and with participation of 25 law enforcement officers deployed in our provincial units.

Drug Demand Reduction Training

Was held in Sudan on 03-07 December 2007 with participation of Sudanese law enforcement officers and training support of our provincial units.

Training on Project Development Intended for Provincial Units

28 participants from provincial units attended the workshop for developing projects that took place on 1-3 April 2007 for discussions on preparing projects in the area of prevention and demand reduction and funding for such projects. The workshop was organized in cooperation of TUBIM, State Planning Organization and National Agency.

Video Clips and Posters

Under a protocol concluded between the TNP and the Turkish Radio and Television Authority (TRT) 5 spot films were prepared by TUBIM emphasizing different dimensions of the issue. Likewise, 4 display posters were prepared and distributed to all cities with contribution of ILTEM and members of the TUBIM science board.

* (Date of access: 30.12.2007)

Web Sites of TUBIM

`www.tubim.gov.te upheld coordination to the highest level possible as a mission of TUBiM.
`www.uyusturucubagimliligi.com' serves as a sound information center on combating drugs for all segments of the society.

5. 'SUBSTANCE ABUSE RISK ANALYSIS QUESTIONNAIRE (U FORM)' 2007 REVIEW

The survey:

-    Aims at providing a general profile of subjects referred to prosecution by the police for substance abuse.
-    Covers 803 subjects having accepted to use drugs, undergone legal procedure due to substance abuse in 2007 and willing to participate in the survey.
-    Was performed with face to face interview technique.
-    Data collection tool is the Substance Abuse Risk Analysis Questionnaire (U form)

1- Gender

Graphic 1 provides gender distribution of substance users. Accordingly, 4,1% of users is female and 95,8% male.

2- Level of Education

Responses to questions on level of education of substance users are given in Graphic 2. Primary school graduates constitute majority of users with a share of 42,5% followed by secondary school' and equivalent graduates with 21,2%.

3. Marital Status

47,60/0 of users are never married, 45,1% married and 5,6% divorced.

4. Living Conditions

Graphic 4 provides distribution of users according to living conditions. Accordingly, 66,4% of users report to live with their parents, 17,9% with one of their parents, 9% alone and 3,4% with a friend.

5. Motives for Abuse

Graphic 5 provides distribution of variables mentioned by users as motives for starting substance abuse.

The first motive for substance abuse is curiosity followed by friend influence, familial problems and personal problems.

6. Substances According to Order of Abuse

As far as this graphic is concerned, the data indicate transitions followed in substance abuse. The first substance appears to be cigarette smoking with 76% followed by hashish with 8%, and then alcohol with 3,1%. Data from this questionnaire show that the majority of substance users were already smoking before starting drugs.

7. Frequency of Use

Among others, hashish is the most commonly used substance with 73,3% followed by heroin with 12,7% and ecstasy with 3,9%. The ratios represent distribution of substances used by subjects who admitted using drugs after being referred to prosecution in 2007.

8. Abuse/Consuming Style

75% of users use drugs by rolling as cigarettes, 12% by eating/drinking, 6% by smoking/inhaling and 3% by injecting.

9. Source of Supply

Graphic 9 provides distribution of sources of supply. Users obtain drugs firstly from their friends and then from strangers.

10. Place of Abuse

As far as the place of abuse variable is concerned, 37,1% of users prefer abandoned places, 41,6% houses (his/her own, friend's or relative's house) and 4,6% entertainment places.

11. Demand for Treatment

Graphic 11 indicates that 83,2% of users were never treated whereas 15,7% previously treated for substance abuse.

12. Past Convictions

As far as part convictions are concerned, 48,7% report no past convictions, 18,7% past convictions only for non-drug related crimes, 15,3% only for drug crimes and 14,3% both for drug and non-drug crimes.

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