The first of the "Struggles Against Addiction" seminars, organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences at Manisa Celal Bayar University and the MCBÜ Addiction Studies Application and Research Center, was held.

During the seminar, held at the Süleyman Demirel Cultural Center on the MCBÜ Health Campus, Prof. Dr. Tuğba Gürpınar Çavuşoğlu, a faculty member of the Pharmacology Department at MCBÜ Faculty of Medicine, provided insights on "A General Overview of Substance Addiction."

In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Seyhun Kürşat, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, stated, "In this meeting, we will strive to gather valuable information from our speaker regarding substance addiction. Dear students, by choosing the Faculty of Health Sciences, you have documented your choice of human beings as your professional material. Studies related to humans do not allow for mistakes. In this regard, I am sure that you will immerse yourselves in a diverse work tempo by committing to this profession, this school, and these courses. You will not only be health workers in society but also individuals contributing to the development and transformation of the community. You will be social leaders. In terms of substance use, you will make great efforts to protect, monitor, and improve the health standards of our country, communities, society, families, and individuals. You will play a transformative role in society.

When it comes to substance addiction, unfortunately, we face a significant problem that affects individuals, families, and society as a whole, resulting in a substantial material and spiritual cost to our nation. In this regard, a significant responsibility falls upon you, every member of society, but especially health workers. Just as you will take on your supervisory role concerning general health, you will also be responsible for taking preventive and counteractive measures against this substance addiction, which shows the potential to reach younger age groups and has a broadening spectrum of violence in society."

Prof. Dr. Tuğba Gürpınar Çavuşoğlu began her speech by stating that addiction is a contemporary issue. She emphasized that health professionals will encounter substance addicts frequently and that they need to have an accurate understanding of substance addiction more than anyone else.

Highlighting that many substances, whether natural or synthetic, can be addictive, Prof. Dr. Tuğba Gürpınar Çavuşoğlu said, "As with many topics on the internet, there is a lot of information available on this subject. It is crucial to distinguish how much of this information is accurate and how much is incorrect. Addiction is a very comprehensive issue.

'What is addiction? Where does it start? Where does it end?' No one admits to being addicted. They define themselves by saying, 'I use occasionally; it doesn't affect me.'

In fact, addiction is a brain disease and a chronic condition. It is not easy to overcome; medical intervention is necessary, and of course, it is multi-faceted. It is a social issue because it affects the individual first, then the family, the environment, and subsequently societies.

It started long before it did in our country. We are late to address it, but unfortunately, it is on the rise. It has become a serious problem. Drugs threaten society as a whole, especially the youth, both directly and indirectly."

At the program, a certificate of appreciation was presented to Prof. Dr. Tuğba Gürpınar Çavuşoğlu by Prof. Dr. Artuner Deveci, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.