Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Cardiology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Uğur Coşkun stated that the Green Crescent which was founded on the 5th of March 1920 with the name of Hilal-i Ahdar to fight against alcohol, added smoking, drugs, technology and gambling to its field of interest later on, continuing to its activities with the knowledge of their responsibilities. He also added that the association increased its works on institutionalisation and started establishment studies in a lot of countries, and with the leadership of Turkish Green Crescent all Greeen Crescents from different countries which completed their establishment process became the members of Green Crescent Federation in İstanbul on the 7th of November 2016. Coşkun stated that the Green Crescent TRNC is also one of the members of the International Green Crescent Federation and the aim of the Federation is to gather the Green Crescent associations from different countries, which completed their establishment process, under one big umbrella.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Uğur Coşkun, in his statement for the 1-7 March Green Crescent week, stated that in order to get effective result for shaping the character of one person, age is a very important factor and stressed the importance of providing the children various games, Green Crescent duties, sports activities, films and visuals for their education.
Coşkun stated that in TRNC, Turkey and the rest of the world the alcohol and drug usage rates are increasing and the age of beginning these habits are declining. He also stressed that both drug addictions, technology and gambling addictions are causing serious damage to individuals and society in psychological, sociological and economical manners.
Tobacco Products Addiction
Dr. Coşkun stressed that every addiction and habit that the Green Crescent battles against has negative effects on cardiovascular system and stated the following in his statement:
“While tobacco products damage the blood circulation and creates blood clotting easier, they also cause atherosclerosis. The transition and accumulation of cholesterol and atherogenic lipid particles that are responsible of blood clotting beneath the intima layer of the inner side of the blood vessels and blocking the inner lumen of the vessels are increased by the consumption of tobacco products. Malignant LDL cholesterol particles are oxidised by the harmful components of tobacco products and the oxidised LDL cholesterol, which is known to be the major cause of atherosclerosis is formed; and therefore, it passes beneath the inner layer of the vessels and accumulates. As a result, tobacco products both degenerate the structure of the vessels and create a risky condition by increasing blood clotting. Acute vascular occlusion which is caused by cholesterol plaque and clot, can cause fatal heart attacks.
Behaviour consultation and medication treatments are very important for quitting smoking. Our hospital is at your service under the leadership of the Head of Department of Thoracic Diseases Prof. Dr. Füsun Yıldız at Smoking Cessation Polyclinic.
Alcohol Addiction
Although it is considered that small amounts of alcohol can have positive effects on the vascular system, it can rapidly pass to the blood and cause sudden increase in the blood volume when taken in large volumes; this can cause acute coronary failure and arrhythmia. One of the major causes of arrhythmia which is the most common cause of palsy is alcohol consumption. Also, alcohol cardiomyopathy which is caused by long term alcohol consumption can cause serious cardiac failure and even quitting alcohol cannot prevent the progression of the disease and heart transplantation can be the only solution.
As alcohol also has a social use and is psycho-active, it can take time before you can understand that you consume a lot of alcohol or you are addicted. Alcohol addiction develops while a lot of people are consuming it for social causes.
Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is consuming drugs that negatively affect the body and therefore, despite it is damaging the body one cannot stop using them. When the addicted people stop using the drugs, they feel deprived and in time, they increase the frequency and dosage.
Different addictive drugs have different effects; sudden increase in heart speed and blood pressure, occlusion in arteries and coronary artery, increase in blood clotting, and heart attack and apoplexy can develop because of these drugs. Respiration-cardiac arrest depending on deep coma, aortic rupture because of over-stimulation, apoplexy and sudden death can occur.
Drug addiction treatments which are in patient and doctor collaboration are carried out as 2-6 weeks of purification at the hospital and as psycho-social treatment for a while.
The best protection method is not to start.
Gambling And Technology Addiction
We mentioned some of the addictions above. Green Crescent classified gambling and technology addictions as addictions that need to be fought against. Both addictions limit physical activities and cause restrictions in the cardiovascular system. Also, it creates a suitable environment to the other addictions.
As Atatürk said, “A healthy mind in a healthy body.” We must lead our youth to social activities, nature expeditions, sports activities to protect them against harmful addictions. We must create face to face communications instead of virtual platforms.
As a result, all addictive drugs, especially tobacco, are an epidemiological public health problem. Therefore, administers have a great responsibility to protect children from tobacco products.”