Turkey’s Growing Drug Problem: Key Findings from the 2024 Narcotics Report

The Anti-Narcotics Department of the General Directorate of Security has released the Turkey Narcotics Report 2024, shedding light on the country’s growing drug problem.

According to the report, Turkey’s strategic geographical location makes it a critical point for drug trafficking. The threat posed by synthetic drugs has continued to increase in recent years.

Methamphetamine Seizures on the Rise

Authorities seized 16.2 tonnes of methamphetamine in 2022, which increased by 35.5% to 21.9 tonnes in 2023. This represents a significant rise in methamphetamine seizures, with the highest amount recorded in the country’s history in 2023.

Heroin Seizures Decline Following Taliban Ban

In 2021, 22.2 tonnes of heroin were seized, but this amount dropped to 7.97 tonnes in 2022. In 2023, the downward trend continued, with only 3.3 tonnes of heroin seized in Turkey.

Cannabis Seizures Increase

Cannabis seizures rose by 23% to 77.9 tons in 2023. Additionally, the number of root cannabis seizures increased by 43.6% compared to the previous year.

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) a Growing Concern

The report highlights concerns about NPS, with a special chapter dedicated to the topic. In 2023, the amount of synthetic cannabinoids seized almost doubled compared to the previous year.

Substance-Related Deaths and Methamphetamine Use

In 2023, there were 300 direct substance-related deaths, with methamphetamine found in 148 of these cases. The average age of those who died was 35, and deaths among those under 30 accounted for 34.3%.

The report emphasizes the need to address methamphetamine-related deaths, which have become a significant threat to Turkish society. Methamphetamine was found in 53.5% of the 185 deaths caused by multiple substance use, and 42.6% of the 49 deaths caused by single substance use.

Treatment and Admissions

The rate of admissions for methamphetamine treatment increased from 3.5% in 2016 to 37.1% in 2023. In 2023, the total number of applications to outpatient treatment centers was 349,393, and the number of applications to inpatient treatment centers was 16,291.