IMM opened the second of the SUDEMs it established within the scope of combating addiction types, especially drugs, in Sultanbeyli after Bağcılar. Speaking at the opening, IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlupointed out that the fight against addiction is an essential situation for Istanbul. “To a large extent, our people cannot find a person or place to even open their problems. He cannot share it with his family. Sometimes the family has problems, the family cannot share it with anyone. In such an environment, it is imperative that we stand by their side to help them immediately and reach out to them. The project for us; It is green per person, it is health per person, it is happiness, it is art, it is freedom.” İmamoğlu announced that the third SUDEM will be opened in Esenyurt.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) opened the second of the Social Cohesion Support Centers (SUDEM), which it put into service within the scope of the fight against addiction, in Sultanbeyli, after Bağcılar. IMM President, who opened SUDEM, which was put into service in Abdurrahmangazi District, within the scope of the "150 Projects in 150 Days" marathon. Ekrem İmamoğlu, emphasized that the size of the projects cannot be described by the size of the buildings or facilities. İmamoğlu said, “The improvement and keeping under control of a process that has taken the life of a child, a young person or an adult captive and devastated the whole family and the whole home along with the life it has taken prisoner cannot be measured by buildings, structures and money. Our Social Compliance Support Center, which we opened today, represents just such a feeling.”
“WE WILL ALWAYS KEEP THE CONCEPT OF SAYING 'HUMAN FIRST'”
Emphasizing that they have made and will continue to make investments in every district of the city, İmamoğlu said, “But the special thing is: Investing in people. And we will always prioritize the concept of saying 'human first'. We want to create a system that enables everyone to benefit from the blessings of this city in fair and equal opportunities, or to find solutions to their problems, or to come to their aid and be by their side in a difficult situation. If the city of 16 million does not have this, we cannot talk about peace or prosperity in such a city. We are opening nurseries for him. We are building dorms. Wherever there is a problem for him, we try to intervene there.”
“CHILDREN'S HEALING MEANS SOCIAL HEALING”
Emphasizing that they put SUDEMs into service with this understanding, İmamoğlu said, “This center is taking action to heal the bleeding wound of the society, and to save our children, young people and even adults from the disease in which they fell, a follow-up center is the most accurate way to get rid of them in the process. It is an effort to create a center that is dealt with in a technical way, but with medical, but sociological, but psychological aspects. In summary; In fact, we are struggling with addiction,” he said. Pointing out that the fight against addiction is an essential situation for Istanbul, İmamoğlu said, “It is such a problem in our Istanbul that most of our people cannot find a person or place to even open their problem. He cannot share it with his family. Sometimes the family has problems, the family cannot share it with anyone. In such an environment, it is imperative that we stand by their side to help them immediately and reach out to them. Of course, the improvement of our children and families, who feel the strong hand of the public, actually means a social improvement.
“PROJECT FOR US; PER PERSON IS GREEN, PERSON IS HEALTH…”
Noting that they aim to attract citizens with addiction problems to SUDEMs and to act as a part of the solution, İmamoğlu said, “Providing this service to people and making per capita well-being measurable will contribute to our service with a better parameter. Frankly, there is no point in even talking or interpreting the service of a project that is not human. The project for us; per capita is green, per capita is health, happiness, art, freedom. This is how we look at this process," he said. Stating that they started to open SUDEMs at the points where the most complaints were received, İmamoğlu shared the information that they will put the third center into service in Esenyurt, the first of which was put into service in Bağcılar.
“WE SHOULD NOT LET THEM GIVE HOPE”
“According to a study by the Istanbul Planning Agency; Sharing the information, “85 percent of the participants say that they have easy access to addictive substances in Istanbul”, İmamoğlu said:
“In other words, we are talking about a case that is so close to us, so much around us. Therefore, we need to know how serious the issue is. Nearly 73 percent of the interviewed participants also think that substance addiction can be treated. It means they have hope. We must not let their hope go unrequited. Of course, we all have very important duties in this sense. As many institutions as there are in Istanbul, but the district municipality, but other institutions, we will try to expand our network in cooperation with them and try to save the society from this disease. Again, according to the research; Most of the families express their concerns to us that they are alone in this regard and that the treatment and the services provided by the institutions are not sufficient. In that respect, I would like to underline that it would be valuable not only for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, but also for many other institutions to take a step towards this inadequacy.”
“WE HAVE SEEN HOW LIFE HAS CHANGED IN 4-5 YEARS”
Reminding that they opened a similar center in Beylikdüzü during the district mayorship period, İmamoğlu said, “We saw how a center we opened in a neighborhood where we detected intense drug sales and use changed life there in just 4-5 years. But we didn't succeed there only in the center we opened for the fight against drugs; At the same time, when we moved 7-8 more functions that will change the culture, art, kindergarten, that is, life, we were able to see and experience how a neighborhood has undergone a great change in 4-5 years and how the lives of children and young people have changed. Therefore, we will carry SUDEM wherever it is needed.” Stating that they are fighting not only against drugs but also against other types of addiction, İmamoğlu said, “The number of people who received support in our rehabilitation centers until July 2022 reached 708. We achieved this in a short time. We want to increase this number by multiplying," he said. After his speech, İmamoğlu toured the center with a delegation including Kartal Mayor Gökhan Yüksel and CHP İBB Assembly Group Deputy Chairman Doğan Subaşı.
WHAT IS SUDEM?
IMM opened the first SUDEMs on 29 June 2022 in Bağcılar. As in Bağcılar, in Sultanbeyli SUDEM, for alcohol, drug and technology addicts; Protective, preventive and rehabilitative services will be provided. In this context; "Social Support", "Psychological Support", "Protective and Preventive Support", "Education and Awareness" and "Occupational Therapy" services will be provided. Services; It will be presented by a staff of experts such as clinical psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists. For people diagnosed with addiction, their families and groups; Rehabilitation, counseling and referral services are offered free of charge. Addiction risk factors are also measured and evaluated. With the follow-up and support, it is ensured that addicted individuals acquire professions and skills after treatment, and are supported with culture-arts and sports activities. In the center, where there will be workshops, theater, drama activities and sports activities aimed at improving physical and mental health, a follow-up process is carried out until finding a job.
WHAT ARE SUDEM'S TARGETS?
The main objectives of the centers are; Protective and preventive studies covering the interventions to be made before the addiction status of individuals diagnosed with addiction and before the use turns into addiction. After the treatment carried out by the Ministry of Health, social rehabilitation processes of individuals and social adaptation support activities are targeted. These studies include studies on improving the psychosocial well-being of the individual diagnosed with addiction and integration into social life during and after the addiction treatment.
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