Governor Pehlivan: “One of the greatest evils is the poisoning of our children and youth.”

Mersin Governor Ali Hamza Pehlivan emphasized that the fight against addiction requires a comprehensive struggle, not just police measures, stating, “We do not want any child to come into contact with addictive substances. Our mothers are the first guides, first teachers, and the safest harbors for their children.”

Governor Pehlivan, together with his wife Yıldız Pehlivan, attended the introduction and information program of the “Best Narcotic Police Mother” project, which is carried out under the auspices of the Mersin Governorate and coordinated by the Provincial Police Department to benefit from maternal sensitivity in preventing drug use. Speaking at the program, Governor Pehlivan stated that the aim of the “Best Narcotic Police Mother” project is to involve mothers in the intense struggle against substance addiction and to enable them to act in a more informed and conscious manner.

Reminding that the project was launched in 2020 under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior, Governor Pehlivan said, “Various activities have been carried out on this issue in all our provinces year by year, and they continue to be carried out. The main purpose here is to take precautions before our children and youth are dragged into the swamp of drugs and addiction and to prevent their contact with addictive substances.”

He emphasized the great importance of closely monitoring children and guiding them, as with many other life issues, stating, “To do this, we need to be knowledgeable and conscious. We visited the booths where our colleagues fighting various crime categories presented their work. One of these is cyber crimes. Within the scope of cyber crimes, issues in the virtual realm, illegal attempts that are tried to be circulated, and bad habits that can lead to drug addiction and the exploitation of our youths and children through gaming are being combated. Responsible units are monitoring these issues day and night, but this is a matter that can only be addressed with a comprehensive struggle. Of course, police measures and the decisions made by judicial authorities, operations are increasing day by day in the areas of responsibility of our police and gendarmerie units, as well as the Coast Guard Command.”

Noting that the scope of the struggle is expanding and reflected in the figures, Governor Pehlivan said, “This is indeed a very important and critical aspect of the issue. However, it is possible to reduce these figures through interventions at the source.”

Expressing that they do not want any child to come into contact with addictive substances, Governor Pehlivan stated, “If a child is in contact with substance addiction, we can detect it early and prevent their use and trafficking activities. This is the fundamental purpose of this project. In this regard, our ministry has also developed certain programs. We are combating immoral and illegal issues in the cyber world. But we also need to use this area for beneficial activities and efforts. We need to fight against those who invade these spaces for evil and be present there for good. We need to develop programs. One of these is the ‘Sleep’ program developed by our Ministry of Interior. Our teams are promoting this program according to their areas of responsibility. When we encounter any negative situation, we can notify by registering on the ‘Sleep’ program downloaded to our mobile phones. Our responsible teams arrive at the scene within minutes.”

Governor Pehlivan stated that there was a general increase in training activities within the scope of the ‘Best Narcotic Police Mother Application’ last year, noting that in the first nine months of 2023, training was provided to 11,000 mothers or expectant mothers, and this number is expected to double by the end of September 2024, reaching 22,500. He expressed his belief that the more people reached, the more intense efforts and cooperation could be achieved, adding, “Education starts at home and continues at school. When we visit our schools, we share this openly with both our administrators and teachers. Therefore, we place great importance on the collaboration and coordination carried out with the school-family union. This is one of the issues we need to cooperate on the most. Just as we are trying to understand the different behaviors and changes of children with our mothers and expectant mothers, we should also approach our teachers sensitively regarding the behaviors of children and youths in the classroom, their relationships with each other, and any negative grouping or changes that may occur. Our aim, our prayer, and our effort is that our children never come into contact with these substances, but we live in such an age that while we strive for good as a state and nation, evil is constantly being produced in the world.”

Emphasizing that one of the greatest evils is the poisoning of our children, youth, and humanity, Governor Pehlivan pointed out that those who use addictive substances will ultimately face death, sooner with some substances and later with others. He stated, “We do not desire this at all. Therefore, we want to focus together and struggle. We want to fight this struggle together. Our mothers are self-sacrificing, devoted, and altruistic. They look after their children as if they were their own eyes and cannot imagine any evil happening to them. We know this. Every child is precious in everyone’s eyes, but let us not forget that the children we protect are facing problems because someone else is not approaching them with the same sensitivity. We would never desire this, but when faced with it, it is not what we wish to cover up, ignore, or say ‘my child would never do such a thing’ without taking any steps. We must be realistic that when things get out of hand, it becomes very difficult to reverse. The most effective method in combating drugs and addiction is to prevent contact altogether.”

At the program, a short film titled ‘Two Breads’ related to addiction was also screened. During the program, Governor Pehlivan, his wife Yıldız Pehlivan, and accompanying officials toured the booths created to emphasize the importance of raising awareness among mothers and expectant mothers about drug use and substance addiction and strengthening family communication.