Strengthening the Turkish National Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drugs Addiction
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location: Turkey
Organization(s) Involved:Turkish Monitoring and Prevention Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (TUBIM)
Contact Person:
Name: Muhsin ALTUN
Position: Director, PAO
Email: muhsin.altun@cfcu.gov.tr
SUMMARY
Turkey, positioned on a significant worldwide drug transit route, is experiencing an increase in drug addiction and trafficking. In 2004, Turkey joined the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and founded the Turkish Monitoring and Prevention Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (TUBIM). Since 2004, Turkey has made tremendous progress in coordination and data collecting using TUBIM.
A Twinning initiative helped TUBIM become the National Focal Point, culminating in a library and documentation center. Specific working groups for important indicators have been established. However, further help was required for greater collaboration at the national and international levels. In 2006, a national drug policy was adopted, along with an Action Plan.
TUBIM employees need training to satisfy EMCDDA standards and participate to the Action Plan implementation. A second Twinning initiative was carried out between 2009 and 2011 to improve collaboration between TUBIM, law enforcement agencies, ministries, civil society players, and the media.
Goals:
Purpose
- Enhance TUBIM’s capacity for data collection and analysis.
- Foster national and international cooperation in drug monitoring.
- Increase awareness and cooperation among NGOs and the media.
Target Audience
- National law enforcement agencies
- Relevant ministries
- Civil society actors
- General population
Main Activities
- Training TUBIM staff to meet EMCDDA requirements.
- Developing a more structured and autonomous framework for TUBIM.
- Increasing collaboration with NGOs and the media.
- Standardizing data collection from treatment centers and forensic labs.
OBJECTIVES
- Strengthen the institutional structure of TUBIM at the national and international levels.
- Increase the technical capacity of TUBIM for data collection and reporting.
- Raise awareness and foster cooperation among NGOs and mass-media institutions.
- Standardize nationwide data collection regarding drug treatment and forensic labs.
- Enhance national capacity for scientific studies on drug prevention and intervention.
- Improve the project-oriented capacity of agencies and institutions against drug abuse.
CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND
Context:
Turkey’s strategic location on global drug routes has made it vulnerable to drug trafficking and an increasing rate of drug addiction. In 2004, TUBIM was established to coordinate drug monitoring and prevention efforts in line with EMCDDA standards. Despite progress, further assistance was needed to enhance cooperation, data collection, and training.
Issues Addressed:
- Lack of recent surveys on drug use.
- Need for a structured and autonomous national focal point.
- Gaps in national and international cooperation on drug monitoring.
- Inadequate training for TUBIM staff to fully meet EMCDDA requirements.
IMPLEMENTATION: ACTIVITIES AND METHODOLOGIES
Key Activities:
- Training and capacity-building for TUBIM staff.
- Establishing a structured legal and organizational framework for TUBIM.
- Enhancing cooperation with NGOs, media, and law enforcement agencies.
- Conducting national surveys on drug use.
Innovative Methodologies:
- Implementation of a standardized data collection system compatible with EMCDDA requirements.
- Development of joint projects between institutions to address drug demand reduction.
Resources: - Financial: €1,923,000 from the EU.
- Human: TUBIM staff, experts, and trainers.
- Technical: Data collection systems, forensic lab equipment.
Partners and Stakeholders: - TUBIM (Lead organization)
- Turkish National Police
- NGOs
- Media organizations
- Forensic labs
- State hospitals and universities
IMPACT
Impact on Community:
- Improved national data collection and analysis on drug use.
- Increased public awareness through media and NGO collaborations.
- Better-equipped institutions to address drug addiction issues.
Youth Involvement: - The project indirectly involved youth through surveys in schools and awareness campaigns in collaboration with NGOs and the media.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The project significantly contributed to Turkey’s ability to meet EMCDDA standards and improved the overall drug monitoring and prevention infrastructure in the country.