90 percent of heroin addicts switched to methamphetamine use. Experts give important warnings about drug addiction. Assoc. Dr. Stating that the effects seen in methamphetamine users have changed recently, Sertaç Ak said, “We see a side effect similar to schizophrenia and we have to use very heavy schizophrenia drugs in this patient group.”
EXPERIENCES VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS
Assoc. Dr. Sertaç Ak said that they have had very serious problems with methamphetamine users for a long time. and we have to use very severe schizophrenia drugs in this patient group. As far as we learned, illegal manufacturers producing methamphetamine have recently added a synthetic methamphetamine. We call it a ‘genetically modified GMO’ or something similar to it. The delusions, delusions and assumptions that people hear very serious voices giving orders in young men or women, dreams come to mind, think that their relatives will harm them in some way, think that they are being followed. We intervene quickly and we can only reverse the situation with both the withdrawal of the substance and very heavy schizophrenia drugs within a 1-week period,” he said.
‘TURN BACK TO Heroin Addiction’
Assoc. Dr. Ak emphasized that it is not easy to refuse when people who are genetically predisposed to psychosis use methamphetamine. It was emphasized that schizophrenia or bipolar disorder with psychotic features started with the use of methamphetamine. Assoc. Dr. Ak continued his words as follows: “Let me tell you worse, we also deal with heroin addiction. When the families of our patients, who recently switched from heroin addiction to methamphetamine addiction, bring the patient to the clinic, they almost say, ‘Hodja, turn our son and daughter back to heroin addiction’. “Living at home was not like living in the same house with a heroin addict. They are seriously inflicting violence on the family,” he said.
‘THEY REPLACE METAMFETAMINE TO HEROIN’
Ak said that 90 percent of heroin addicts who applied to Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Adult Hospital AMATEM Clinic started using methamphetamine. They say that they can reach figures such as 20 to 30 liras, and they talk about the fact that they can easily reach it on the street at the moment. “There are so many people who start at the age of one,” he said.
‘THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED MULTIDISCIPLINARY’
Assoc. Dr. Stating that there are effective laws in the fight against drugs, Ak said, “Especially in Article 432 of the ‘Turkish Civil Code, there is a provision that every individual who is at risk of harming their surroundings can be treated by force. Again, in Article 406 of the same law, alcohol and substance abuse. There is a provision that they can be restricted regarding the issue. This article 432 can be put into effect quickly. Our public prosecutors and law enforcement officers need to take the initiative here. Especially when our public prosecutors have such a notification from the family, they can take a quick action and we can respond quickly and take a week. “We can reverse this picture within 2 weeks. Perhaps a way has been opened for treatment. We are faced with a very serious problem. We are growing like a mountain and we are very afraid that this mountain will collapse on us. That’s why it is vital to address this issue as a multidisciplinary.” General Directorate of Security, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, Family and Social Policies “The ministry and universities need to work together,” he said. Reminding that the Addiction Coordination Board was established in the Presidency, Assoc. Dr. Ak said, “It is carried out in the secretariat of the Ministry of Health, and it is headed by Vice President Fuat Oktay. That was the aim. How can we ensure that these multidisciplinary and very different groups work together in this multi-faceted struggle? As the institution that produces the information on how this will work, we are doing our best as a university,” he said. (DHA)