The Human Rights and Freedoms (İHH) Humanitarian Relief Foundation and the Alliance of International Doctors (AID) will launch a project to fight drug addiction in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Carried out in cooperation with the Stari Grad Municipality of the capital Sarajevo, with the support of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the project aims to inform children and young people who are targets of substance addiction, as well as families, teachers, and religious leaders.

At a meeting held in Sarajevo, İHH Board Member Osman Atalay, our General President Mevlüt Yurtseven, and Stari Grad Mayor Ibrahim Hadžibajrić discussed the details of the project.

İHH Board Member Osman Atalay stated in his remarks that drugs spread from the Middle East and Afghanistan to Europe through Turkey and the Balkans, saying, "This region serves as a bridge. For this reason, the young population living in both Turkey and the Balkans is the target here."

Noting that substance addiction has been spreading dangerously among young people in recent years, Atalay stated that civil society organizations have duties in taking preventive measures.

Touching on the prevalence of substance addiction in the Balkans, Atalay emphasized that there is a serious rate ranging between 5 and 7 percent on average in the countries of the region, saying, "Here we see that the security measures of countries alone are not sufficient. Civil society organizations also have very important duties."

Our General President, Specialist Dr. Mevlit Yurtseven, said that they were carrying out a project to prevent substance addiction, stating, "Substance addiction is as serious a problem today as terrorism. It has four phases. What we are concerned with is reducing demand, that is, preventing substance addiction before it occurs by raising awareness among families and children. Because once it occurs, there is no such thing as treatment. There is only staying clean, and that is a rather expensive and difficult method."

Emphasizing that the aim of the project is to reach families and to form local trainers and volunteer groups, Yurtseven said, "Our goal is to prevent this affliction together." Our General President, Specialist Dr. Mevlit Yurtseven, stated that the project would be implemented for the first time outside of Turkey's borders in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Stari Grad Mayor Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, pointing out that substance addiction is becoming increasingly widespread in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said, "It is possible to encounter this problem in all cities of the country. AID responded to the letter of intent we sent on this matter. Today we gathered here and discussed the details of the project which we plan to launch at the end of the year."