Government outlines North Cyprus addiction strategy plans

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel has set out plans for a North Cyprus Addiction Strategy and Action Plan, alongside a new coordinating structure under the Prime Ministry, the Prime Ministry said following an addiction symposium on 18 September.

According to the Prime Ministry, Üstel said the strategy would be prepared after the symposium, which was led by the Prime Ministry’s Anti-Drug Commission. The event brought together public institutions from North Cyprus and Türkiye, security forces, universities, academics, health workers and civil society organisations.

Üstel said the proposed senior coordination body would be chaired by the prime minister and include representatives able to take decisions on behalf of relevant ministries and public institutions. Its members’ responsibilities would be set out under a shared strategy and action plan, he said.

The government intends to combine prevention, early intervention, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration services within one system, according to Üstel. He said the approach would cover substance addictions, including drugs, alcohol and tobacco, as well as behavioural addictions such as digital addiction, illegal betting and gambling.

Üstel also said work was planned to improve data collection and evaluation. This includes efforts to introduce wastewater analysis as a monitoring tool and expand the technical capacity of the State Laboratory.

On treatment provision, Üstel said steps had been taken towards establishing a 16-bed AMATEM addiction treatment facility. The Prime Ministry also said the 1191 Addiction Counselling and Support Line operates around the clock, providing counselling, information and referral services for people experiencing addiction and their families.

Üstel said the Anti-Drug Commission had provided continuous services to 25,415 people through prevention, education, counselling, referral, research and social reintegration activities. The figure was presented by the prime minister and has not been independently verified by News24.