Analysis of Policies toward Drugs by Turkey’s Ministry of Health

Drug use constitutes an important public health issue due to the danger that it presents not only to users but also to society as a whole. Aiming to analyze the anti-drug policies implemented by Turkey’s Ministry of Health for preventive and curative health services, this study used a process analysis method to analyze the data retrospectively. The study was conducted as part of the Ministry of Health’s drug policy based on the output set between 2013 and 2015 and under the Anti-Drug Emergency Action Plan 2015. The policy analysis found not only that the number of treatment centers included in the emergency action plan had increased but also that diagnostic standards had been developed, an advisory hotline for the prevention and treatment of drug use had been established, the media was effective in provoking reform, and senior administration support had developed in a positive direction. In addition, no practical study related to the targets determined as part of the emergency action plan was found to exist, including studies attempting to determine positive performance criteria for activities carried out as part of the anti-drug efforts in community health centers, the establishment of the Turkish Scientific Advisory Board on Anti-Drugs, making necessary arrangements in generic classification management, coordinating the use of funds, establishing the communication board, Such as the use of a language. Also noted are the lack of data used in assessing the practical consequences of policies for the fight against drugs, the fact that the fight against drugs in Turkey implemented is multi-headed, and the existence of national plans prepared by different institutions.

To cite this article: Arslan, D. T., & Akbulut, Y. (2017). Analysis of policies toward drugs by Turkey’s ministry of health. Addicta: The Turkish Journal on Addictions, 4, 151–180. http://dx.doi.org/10.15805/addicta.2017.4.2.0031