The International Federation of Green Crescent (IFGC), in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), successfully held the 3rd IFGC–WHO Meeting on Addictive Behaviours: Public Health Aspects and Diagnostic Procedures for Disorders Due to Addictive Behaviours from 10 to 12 December 2025 at Sepetçiler Pavilion in Istanbul.

The meeting brought together leading global experts to address the public health implications of behavioural addictions, with a particular focus on gaming and gambling disorders. Throughout the discussions, participants emphasised that while not everyone who engages in gaming or gambling experiences harm, a significant proportion of individuals face psychological distress, functional impairment, and disruption to family and social life.

With the growing global recognition of gaming disorder and gambling disorder, experts underlined the urgent need for effective prevention strategies, early identification mechanisms, and accessible treatment services. Since both disorders were formally included in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in 2019, governments and health systems have been called upon to respond using evidence-based and standardised tools.

In this context, the meeting focused on strengthening public health responses by improving diagnostic procedures and promoting evidence-based assessment instruments. Early identification and accurate diagnosis were highlighted as central components of a comprehensive public health approach. Particular attention was given to the WHO collaborative project on international screening and diagnostic tools, which was first launched in Istanbul in 2017. A key outcome of this ongoing work, the draft Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Disorders Due to Addictive Behaviours (DISDAB), formed a central focus of the 2025 meeting.

The meeting hosted 45 experts from 22 countries, including WHO Türkiye Representative Dr. Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Headquarters specialists Anja Busse and Dzmitry Krupchanka, internationally recognised academics and clinicians, seven Country Green Crescent representatives, and five members of the Turkish Green Crescent Scientific Committee.

Three Days of In-Depth Discussion

Day One – Global Context and Recent Developments (10 December 2025)

The meeting opened with remarks by IFGC President Prof. Dr. Mehmet Dinç and WHO Türkiye Representative Dr. Tasnim Atatrah, followed by invited speakers. Sessions introduced the mission of IFGC and outlined the objectives of the meeting. Discussions addressed epidemiology, public health protection frameworks, and treatment interventions, alongside recent global developments such as regulatory innovations, monitoring systems, and industry practices. The day concluded with a panel discussion on key barriers and priorities for action.

Day Two – Diagnostic Procedures and DISDAB Validation (11 December 2025)

The second day focused on diagnostic frameworks and assessment tools. Experts presented the ICD-11 diagnostic criteria, existing screening instruments, and updates from WHO’s collaborative project. A comprehensive presentation of the DISDAB tool was followed by in-depth discussions on psychometric evaluation, sampling strategies, and ethical considerations. In the afternoon, representatives from more than fifteen countries shared updates on planned implementation sites for the upcoming multi-centre international validation study. The day concluded with an official dinner at the IFGC Headquarters.

Day Three – Challenges, Roadmap, and Future Cooperation (12 December 2025)

The final day addressed anticipated challenges and risks related to the validation study. Participants worked collaboratively to define the roles of partner institutions and to develop a coordinated international roadmap for implementation. Further discussions explored broader needs in prevention, treatment, monitoring, and research. The meeting concluded with closing statements from WHO and IFGC.

A Strong Tradition of Cooperation

The collaboration between IFGC and WHO has a well-established history. A landmark meeting held in Istanbul in 2017 contributed to the inclusion of gaming and gambling disorders in ICD-11, followed by a focused workshop on gambling disorder in 2019. Building on this momentum, the 2025 meeting further strengthened global cooperation and marked an important step toward advancing international diagnostic standards and public health responses to behavioural addictions.