CHP's İlgezdi: Will you reduce addiction by reducing the anti-drug budget by 69 percent?

CHP Istanbul Deputy Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi stated that the government's fight against drugs is nothing more than talk, and that the budget for combating addiction is a clear indication. She asked, "Data from the Drug Hotline reveals the dramatic picture of Turkey, which has been mired in drug addiction. The number of applications has increased 12-fold in the last seven years, reaching 730,000 in 2022. Will you reduce addiction by reducing the drug budget by 69 percent?"

CHP Istanbul Deputy Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi emphasized that the fight against drugs is the biggest battle for the future, saying, “The AKP has become the protector of the drug scourge. The government, which spares no effort in taking measures to prevent our youth, and even our children, who are our future, from accessing drugs, has reduced the anti-addiction budget, set at 9 billion 343 million 722 thousand TL at the beginning of 2024, by 6.4 billion TL, to 2 billion 868 million 993 thousand TL. Are you going to reduce addiction by reducing the anti-drug budget by 69 percent?”

Akkuş İlgezdi, noting the explosion in calls to the Drug Helpline, said, “The Drug Helpline data reveals the dramatic picture of Türkiye, which is mired in drug addiction. The number of applications has increased 12-fold in the last seven years, reaching 730,000 in 2022. Despite the steadily decreasing age of drug use and the increasing rate of those committing drug use or selling, the AKP government's so-called war on drugs is clearly visible even in official data. The damage is being done to our youth, our children, our future, and our families.”