Addiction support was provided to 588 people in Şanlıurfa

Founded 8 years ago in the city, YEDAM provides services to families and loved ones of addicts within the framework of confidentiality principles. Free services are provided to tobacco, alcohol, substance, internet and gambling addicts who are interviewed one-on-one by psychologists and social service experts working at the institution.

In YEDAM workshops, activities such as table tennis and painting are also organized for clients to use their free time.

Whenever possible, officers visit tradesmen, provide information through brochures and ask for support.

To date, the center has provided support to 588 people, including 26 with alcohol addiction, 289 with substance addiction, 191 with tobacco addiction, 76 with gambling addiction and 6 with internet addiction, and a total of 6,100 interviews have been conducted.

Expert Clinical Psychologist Mehmet Salih Ceylan told AA correspondent that 5 expert teams and two support teams provide services within YEDAM.

Stating that in addition to the meetings, they carried out YEDAM promotions in order to reach addicted individuals and their families, Ceylan said:

"Since the day YEDAM was founded, we have held a total of 6,100 meetings. We are carrying out YEDAM promotions for institutions, organizations, foundations and schools. We have carried out 450 YEDAM promotions to date. In addition, we have visited tradesmen as part of the independence mobilization we have carried out this year. During our visits to tradesmen, we provide information about YEDAM activities and distribute brochures. We share information about how we work and in which areas we work and we cooperate with our tradesmen in this regard. In terms of referrals of clients, if there is an addicted individual in their environment or in the environment they work in, in their family or if there is an individual who has an addiction problem, we request their support in referring them to us. Because tradesmen are one of our strongest legs in the field. We cooperate with all tradesmen we cooperate with and visit, and in this regard, their referrals are made to our centers and these referrals are carried out."

YEDAM Social Service Specialist Hacer Aktar said that when clients come to the institution, they are subjected to a first interview by psychologists in the clinic.

Aktar stated that if there is a need for social services after the meeting, they are directed to that service, and noted the following:

"With this guidance, we conduct a major evaluation interview with our clients. In follow-up interviews, we create a personalized intervention plan and make social arrangements to ensure the client's social participation, meet their social needs, especially in family relations, friendships, their environment and leisure time. At this point, we conduct institutional cooperation and mediation. Again, by conducting field visits, Alcohol and Drug Addicts Treatment and Research Center (AMATEM), hospital and home visits, we support our clients on issues that cause difficulties in their daily lives. We conduct social activity activities. We organize various workshops depending on their areas of interest. Change means new habits, a new environment, a new life. We work in cooperation to solve our clients' problems such as health insurance, unemployment and leisure time."