Turkey opens 104 centers to fight all kinds of addiction

By Dilan Pamuk

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey will continue fighting all types of addictions through a human-centric approach, said the country’s president in the metropolis Istanbul on Friday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of Turkish Green Crescent Counseling Centers, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the centers will help the citizens in their fights against tobacco, alcohol, substance, gambling as well as technology addiction.

As many as 104 centers in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will provide free support not only to addicts but also to their families and social circles, he noted.

Erdogan added that the support will continue for those who break their addiction, and will include health insurance, employment, spare-time activities, and vocational courses.

A team including psychologists and social service specialists will assist the individuals during and after their fight against addiction, he continued.

Touching on the dangers of technology addiction, the president said: “Technology addiction drifts us away from the values that make us human, and imprisons us in an unreal world.”

He warned parents about technology addiction, noting that it can lead to other sorts of addictions from which parents try to protect their children.

“None of such addictions have to do with ideologies or beliefs,” Erdogan said. “Whoever promotes (alcoholic) drinks, substances, or cigarettes, you can be sure that their mere concern is to cover up their own aberrant lifestyle, weaknesses, and complexes.”