Struggle against addictions with 34 countries in 4 continents

The “2nd Annual Capacity Building Program for Green Crescents”, which brought together 70 representatives of 34 National Green Crescents in Istanbul, came to an end. The Turkish Green Crescent showed that its efforts in the field of addictions gain ground on becoming “an exemplary NGO in the world” by carrying its century-old experience to the international arena.

The 2nd Annual Capacity Building Program for Green Crescents, which brought together 70 representatives from 34 countries, including Albania, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Senegal, and Tanzania, hosted by Turkish Green Crescent came to an end. The Turkish Green Crescent struggles against addictions globally with its international cooperation and organization in 4 continents.

Dr. Esra Albayrak who is a member of the Board, spoke at the closing of the 3-day event and noted that addiction is a global problem. Against this problem, global policies are needed, she said. Dr. Albayrak also said, “The Green Crescent, which is recognized for Excellence 3 Stars, will be a pioneer in prevention and rehabilitation with the National Green Crescents established in 34 countries as well as international collaborations.”

TBM is the most effective prevention program

She pointed out that the Green Crescent offered its century-old experience and supported the National Green Crescents in the implementation of projects. “Currently, TBM is the most effective prevention program in the world based on dependency. We will keep this success up. We will work against drug as well as alcohol, tobacco and technology addiction together with National Green Crescents at the global level.”

IFGC targets 60 countries by the end of 2018

The Green Crescent endeavours to be organised at the international level in addition to its branches in Turkey. Within this scope, the Green Crescent gained the status of a global non-governmental organization by supporting the establishment of National Green Crescents all over the world. With the National Green Crescents, which have been established in 34 countries up to now, the aim is to transfer century-old experience of struggle with addictions to other countries and to support the works on addiction. Having carried its international activities to the next level, the Turkish Green Crescent gathered the National Green Crescents under the roof of the International Federation of Green Crescents (IFGC) which announced its Declaration of Establishment in April 2016. In IFGC, Turkish Green Crescent is a National Green Crescent, like other National Green Crescents, and supervises other countries. The number of the National Green Crescent is currently 34, and the aim is to reach 60 countries by the end of 2018.

11 million students and 2 million parents

TBM, carried out in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of National Education, is a preventive education program created by specialist academicians, physicians, psychologists and communication specialists in addiction fields. From every province, 5 school counsellors were trained as TBM Trainers. With these TBM Trainers, 28,000 school counsellors were given individual training in Turkey, and 11 million students and 2 million parents received TBM training thanks to 28,000 counsellors. Approximately, 18 million students are aimed to be trained within the scope of TBM through school counsellors specialising in addictions. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) shows the TBM training program as best practice in its 2016 drug report.