Istanbul Initiative Summit convenes to address global addiction prevention

The 7th Istanbul Initiative Summit, hosted by Yeşilay, commenced on October 8 in Istanbul to address global addiction prevention and public health strategies. The event brings together 21 representatives from 16 non-governmental organizations and 14 countries.

During the opening, Mehmet Dinç, President of the Turkish Green Crescent (Yeşilay), emphasized that addiction is a global public health issue requiring international solidarity. He noted that sharing successful programs and experiences across borders can prevent other nations from undergoing unnecessary trial and error in their prevention efforts.

The summit's agenda includes evaluating previous commitments, discussing the future sustainability of the Istanbul Initiative, and analyzing global trends in substance production, trafficking, and consumption.