Int'l Green Crescents Federation unites the world against addiction

The Green Crescent is taking its international activities to a new level, becoming a global nongovernmental organization. On April 8 in Istanbul, the Green Crescent will sign the World Green Crescents Federation's founding declaration along with representatives from 30 countries. Fighting against addiction in Turkey for over a century, the Green Crescent is now taking international growth and organizational structure to the federation level. To make Turkey an example and leader in the fight against addiction and open up its mission to the world, the Green Crescent's call has prompted Green Crescent organizations in 30 countries to unite under a new umbrella federation under Turkey's lead. The World Green Crescents Federation wants to bring a global vision to the fight against addiction and kick start a united fight.

It collaborates on projects with international organizations such as the U.N., EU, the European Council, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Federation of Islamic Medical Association (FIMA), providing substantial support to its international structure. The increase in substance use draws attention in member countries, including Bosna-Herzegovina, Palestine, Montenegro, Malaysia, Thailand, Lebanon, Congo, Cyprus, Albania, Kenya, Kosovo, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Bangladesh, Uganda, Nigeria, Yemen, Tanzania, Serbia and China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

Due to the Israeli blockade, substance abuse has recently become a serious social problem in Gaza and West Bank. Another Middle Eastern country where addictive substance problems are common is Yemen where 75 percent of men and 45 percent of women use a substance called khat. Drug trafficking through Gulf countries is intensifying and increasing substance abuse there.

Another country under the World Green Crescents Federation's umbrella is Bosnia-Herzegovina where traumas typical of post-war societies are related to alcohol and substance abuse. Lebanon, for its part, has the highest rate of alcohol abuse of Muslim-majority countries and hookah smoking is also a problem.

The World Green Crescents Federation aims for an efficient global fight against substance abuse by enabling countries to develop joint strategies and collaboration opportunities against addictions.