Reports indicate that the age of first drug use in Amed (Diyarbakır) has fallen below 12. Data from the Diyarbakır Bar Association for 2023 show that 2,173 individuals were prosecuted in the city under charges related to the “Production and Trafficking of Drugs or Stimulant Substances.” Among those prosecuted were 7 children under 12 years old, 2 between 12 and 15, and 27 between 15 and 18.

In response to the rising rates of drug use and substance addiction, a new platform has been established through the participation of numerous institutions and civil society organizations to build a network of social solidarity. Declared under the name “Platform for Combating Drugs,” the structure aims to develop joint action plans to protect young people and society.

The founding declaration of the Platform for Combating Drugs emphasized that the fight against drugs must not be limited to security measures alone but must also be supported by social, economic, and cultural policies. The statement particularly highlighted poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion as the fundamental issues fueling substance addiction.

The platform, which announced its declaration through a march attended by thousands of people, is set to begin its activities in the near future.

Members of the platform and local citizens spoke about the upcoming efforts to combat substance addiction.

We will rebuild society

Recep Oruç, a member of the Platform for Combating Drugs from the Health Workers' Union, stated that the steadily decreasing age of drug use was inflicting deep wounds on society and explained that they established the new platform to find solutions to this issue.

Oruç said: “The fact that the age of drug use keeps dropping day by day is a painful reality for us. We created this platform to understand the reasons behind it and to develop solutions. We wanted to respond to the problems we were witnessing.”

Oruç stated that the platform would soon embark on a process of rebuilding society. He added, “Drug use emerges from social fragmentation. When individuals are unable to find motivation within society, they turn to substances. Our fundamental aim will be to rebuild this society.”

Oruç emphasized that the drug problem is not limited to young people and stated, “This is an issue that concerns all of us; therefore, we must find a solution together. It is heartbreaking to witness a nine-year-old child using drugs. At this point, we want to create significant public awareness.”

We will start our efforts from the neighborhoods

Oruç stated that the platform aims to carry out activities across all areas of society, beginning from the neighborhoods. He highlighted the strong support received from the public and concluded his remarks as follows: “We will seek solutions to these problems without reducing them to a single dimension. We will be present in the field. We believe that the process we started with anxiety will end with hope. Our goal is to extend this effort to every sphere of life.”

We are living through the consequences of special warfare policies

Zeynep Kaya stated that the current situation has emerged as a result of special warfare policies and said, “Substance addiction is one of the most pressing issues in society, and it inflicts deep wounds. A significant change and transformation are needed. That is why we felt the need to establish this platform. Through the steps we will take in the neighborhoods, we will initiate preventive efforts. These developments are the direct consequences of the special warfare policies being implemented. Since the period of government-appointed trustees, we have all witnessed the increase in drugs, prostitution, and gang activities. We will resist these policies. We will organize socially and stand against them.”

We must stand alongside the youth

Büşra Koruk, one of the young people participating in the march, said: “We are here to support our peers, as well as those younger and older than us. This addiction can be overcome. As young people, we are committed to stopping and preventing it. We must stand by the youth. First, their families, and then society as a whole, must support them. This issue is growing due to imitation and peer pressure. It is in all of our hands to stop it.”

Let us save society from this poison

Lütfiye Çanaçık said that the ongoing efforts gave them courage and said, “We want to liberate society from this poison. Important work is being carried out, but it is not yet enough. These efforts encourage us as well. As mothers, we are stepping into the field too. We want to eliminate this poison from everywhere. We want a clean generation, a clean society.”