Stay Alive! - A2 TURKEY

The second meeting of our project named Stay Alive was held in Turkey on 12-15 August 2022. A total of 12 participants from Hungary, Turkey and Romania took part in our second meeting.

Our participants prepared posters under the name of "Truth Known Mistakes". The posters included phrases such as "My Will Is Strong, I Will Never Be Addicted, Never Become Addicted by Using Substances Once, Addictive Substance Increases the Circle of Friends". The posters prepared by our participants were turned into a diagram and took their place on the website we designed.

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We published the results of our project as a newspaper article in Turkey due to the increasing rates of addiction.

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Common Misconceptions about Substance Addiction

MY WILL IS STRONG, I AM NOT DEPENDENT

Everyone can be addicted. This is not necessarily related to strength or weakness of will. Some mood disorders can sometimes lead to substance abuse. However, there are many people who are addicted even though they do not have such a problem or, conversely, there are many people who are not addicted even though they have such a problem.

I CAN CONTROL MYSELF

This belief is the first step to start using substances. The thought "I can control myself" leads to the result of not hesitating to enter environments where drugs are used. However, the safest way to choose is to avoid these environments.

SUBSTANCE USE INCREASES FRIENDSHIP RELATIONSHIPS

Substance use does not increase friendships. The temptations of substance abuse should be treated with scepticism. Substance abuse can lead to reddening of the eyes and swelling of the eyelids the next day, which is not a pleasant sight. In addition, under the influence of substances, people often say meaningless things or concentrate only on themselves. In this state, he or she communicates worse with other people and therefore cannot develop friendships.

USING ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES HELPS TO EXPAND ONE'S SOCIAL CIRCLE

The social circle of people who use addictive substances either shrinks over time or their social circle consists of people who also use similar substances. Using these substances does not make you more loved and valued by others. People who are prepared to take risks only gain the admiration of others for a short time. But in the long run, the most popular people are those who fill their lives with good habits and beauty.

EVERYONE USES IT, NOTHING HAPPENS

This idea stems from a person's endeavour to find an ally. The vast majority of people and young people do not use substances. It may take time for the people around the young person who use substances to realise the harm. The fact that nothing happens to them today does not mean that they will not be harmed tomorrow. People who do not use substances are more likely to live happy and productive lives than those who use substances.

ONE TIME USE IS NOTHING

"Once" is the first step towards "many times". After the first use, the person is no longer afraid of substance use. They have learnt where to get the substance and how to use it. In addition, some substances can be addictive even with only one use.

ONLY WEAK PEOPLE BECOME ADDICTED

A person does not become addicted because he is weak. After becoming addicted, he or she becomes a weak person over time. After a while, behavioural and personality changes occur as a result of drug use

THE SUBSTANCE ONLY HARMS THE PERSON WHO USES IT

The addicted individual loses his/her social productivity and becomes a consuming person. He/she is forced to commit offences in order to obtain the substance. In order to be able to sell drugs in a wider environment, he/she tries to get his/her close relatives or people around him/her to get addicted to drugs. In addition, the money paid for the substance directly or indirectly enters the coffers of terrorist organisations.

IT IS WEED, IT DOES NO HARM. DOES NOT CAUSE ADDICTION

When using so-called natural and non-addictive substances, physical addiction symptoms such as sweating, trembling, nausea and vomiting may not be observed. However, severe psychological withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia and irritability occur and very strong psychological addiction occurs.

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Substance Use Assessment Scale

You can test yourself by answering the following questions.

1.How often have you used [substance] in the last year?

□ Never

□ At least once

□ More than three times

2.Did some problems occur when you stopped or reduced [the substance] (e.g. insomnia, sweating, irritability, restlessness, trembling, etc.)?

□ Never

□ Sometimes

□ Very often

3.Have you ever given up other activities in your life because of [substance] use (e.g. family visits, hobbies, social contacts, etc.)?

□ Never

□ Sometimes

□ Very often

4.Has using [substance] negatively affected your physical or mental health?

□ Never

□ Sometimes

□ Very often

5.Did your [substance] use have a negative impact on any of the following areas of life? Your family relationships? Your relationships with your friends? In your education? In your work life?

□ Never

□ Sometimes

□ Very often

6.Do you ever use [substance] during the daytime?

□ Never

□ Sometimes

□ Very often

7.Have you ever used a substance intravenously in your life?

□ Never

□ Sometimes

□ Very often

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After recovering from substance addiction..

Although recovery varies from person to person, each period usually has its own characteristics.

Abstinence Period (0-1 month): The most difficult period for the addict who quits alcohol or substance is the first period. This period is a period of physical and mental distress, which we define as withdrawal. The person may experience positive and negative sudden emotional ups and downs in this period.

Euphoria period (1-3 months): Towards the end of the first month, when the withdrawal symptoms disappear and the desire to use alcohol or substance decreases, the person thinks that he/she has recovered and the addiction problem has completely disappeared. During this period, many things have changed in his/her life. Having a regular job, a regular life and continuous relationships are very good for the person.

Boredom period (3-6 months): Towards the end of 3 months, boredom, fatigue, weakness and depression may be observed. The person may lose the enthusiasm for change. Regular life may have bored the person and longing for the old may have started. For this reason, it is important to understand and support the difficulty the person is experiencing, especially in this period.

New life period (6 months and after): Although emotional ups and downs are more common in the first 6 months, the period after 6 months is relatively more comfortable in terms of creating a new lifestyle, making new friends and seeking new pleasures.

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Tests under the title "Can I Be Addicted?" were distributed to our participants. The answers given by the participants to the tests were discussed and shared on the website, and many young people were enabled to answer this test. Our participants, who were informed about the activities and substance abuse, memoir. The created memoirs took their place on our designed website.

Photos from our meetings..