TUBİM-TURKISH MONITORING CENTRE FOR DRUGS AND DRUG ADDICTION

“National reference point  for drug monitoring and cooperation” TUBİM is Turkish National Focal Point for European Monitoring Centre for Drug and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). It is also the centre which monitors drug problem in every dimension, develops and supervises National Drug Strategy and Action Plan, and ensures national coordination in this field.

TUBIM operates under umbrella of Ministry of Interior – Turkish National Police. Since 2002 it is affiliated to Department of Antismuggling and Organised Crime Department which is the most powerful body on combating drug supply and crime.

History

Creation of Focal Point to EMCDDA goes back to 2000 when Turkey applied to the EU Commission to join EMCDDA in line with the Turkey-EU harmonisation process.
Consequently duties of the “National Focal Point” that is required by the EMCDDA were assumed by Turkish Institution of Family Research under the Prime Ministry.
A delegation of EMCDDA paid a visit to Turkey in 2001 in order to see the activities of Turkish Institution of Family Research, provide information on the technical support for possible projects, and evaluate Turkey’s technical capacity to take part in EMCDDA activities.

The shortcomings of the Institution of Family Research were identified in a short time and another institution was sought for with the decision of the Institution of Family Research. This time the focus was on the most important agency of the country in fighting against drugs, Anti-Smuggling and Organised Crimes (KOM) Directorate under the Turkish National Police (TNP) of the Ministry of Interior.

Upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and authorisation of Prime Ministry dated 16.05.2002, KOM Directorate under the Security General Directorate became the EMCDDA National Focal Point for Turkey.

TASKS
National Tasks

a. Ensuring national coordination in line with National Strategy and Action Plan (“National Drug Coordination Board” founded under TUBİM includes 40 agencies/institutions working in the field of fight against drugs (fight against supply, law enforcement, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The board convenes 3 times a year under the presidency of TUBİM.)

b. Convening Scientific Board in line with the National Action Plan and conducting the presidency of this board (“TUBİM Scientific Board provides recommendations on fighting against drug with 11 academics from 7 different universities on the fields of psychiatry, public health, forensic medicine, criminology, social services, etc.)

c. Writing National Drug Report Annually (Data related to the fight against drug is collected from relevant agencies annually and “National Drug Report” is written. This report is submitted to EMCDDA.)

d. Writing National Strategy Document and supervising it (National Strategy Document covering 2006-2012 is in effect.)

e. Writing National Action Plan in line with the National Strategy and supervising it (National Action Plan for 2007-2009 is over now and has been evaluated. National Action plan for 2010-2012 has been written with contributions from relevant agencies and is now submitted for signature.)

f. As is due according to the National Action Plan, it monitors the work done by Provincial Boards on Fighting Against Drugs (Supervising Provincial Action Plans written by Provincial Boards under  Governors’ Offices)

g. Monitoring the work of TUBİM Provincial Focal Points and providing them guidance (Demand reduction conferences are organised at schools upon the request of the Provincial Directorate of National Education.)

h. Ensuring active functioning of National Early Warning System (Monitoring new psychoactive substances within Early Warning System, conducting risk assessment for Turkey and initiating processes for legally limiting these substances.)

International Tasks

a. Acting as the National Focal Point of Turkey for EMCDDA.
b. Collecting and submitting any drug related data to EMCDDA and United Nations Office for Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) ever year regularly on behalf of Turkey.
c. Writing National Drug Report annually and sharing it with EMCDDA.
d. Carrying out its functions in line with EMCDDA monitoring fields.

TUBİM’s Monitoring Fields

- Prevalence among Young people and General Population (This working group is working towards conducting the Drug Prevalence in General Population Survey in Turkey in 2011. This survey will be the first of its kind in Turkey)

- Problem Drug Use Indicator,
- Drug Related Infectious Diseases Indicator,
- Drug Related Deaths and Death Rates Indicator,
- Treatment Demand Indicator,
- Drug Supply and law enforcement,
-Early Warning System Working Group (EWS), new trends-substances
- Exchange on Drug Demand Reduction Activity (EDDRA) Working Group.

TUBİM do surveys and researches where needs are exists.
As a last words, TUBİM is national reference point  for drug monitoring and cooperation.

Web:http://www.tubim.gov.tr/