...
EN
Select a Country
Calendargraymini

20/02/2025

Substance Addiction and Recovery Webinar

The first webinar of 2025, "Substance Addiction and Recovery - Practical Approaches from YEDAM," will be held on February 20, 2025, from 12:00 to 13:00 (GMT +3) for Country Green Crescent representatives During this session: o   The psychological and social effects of addiction, risk factors, early intervention methods, and recovery processes will be discussed. o   YEDAM's free counseling services in alcohol, substance, gambling, tobacco, and İnternet addiction will be introduced. o   Comprehensive solutions such as psycho-social support, family therapy, case analysis, and life skills training will be explained in detail. o   Findings from case studies and best practices from the field will be shared. Starting this year, IFGC aim to hold more interactive sessions to increase engagement. Country Green Crescent representatives are welcome to share their thoughts, questions, and best practices before the webinar.

Read More
Calendargraymini

02/05/2025

IFGC Forum Concludes with Honourable Attendance of President Erdoğan
Read More
Search Results
KOKU” (5)

Sorry, we couldn't find the content you were looking for.
Want to try another word or term?

Logo

GAMBLING ADDICTION

Gambling addiction is an uncontrollable urge to continue gambling despite its negative impact on a person's life. The International Federation of Green Crescent collaborates with Country Green Crescents to effectively prevent gambling addiction. Awareness campaigns, capacity-building programs, advocacy and prevention activities are among the primary areas of focus in this issue.

What is Gambling Addiction?

Gambling is defined as putting money or valuables at stake on an event, with the goal of correctly predicting the outcome to gain additional money or material possessions and the uncertainty of the outcome. Gambling addiction is driven by an overstimulation of the brain's reward system, similar to other types of addictions.

While gambling may initially seem like a fun and skill-based activity for individuals, it can lead to psychosocial and economic problems for individuals, families and society, eventually turning into an addiction. Gambling addiction is the most common impulse control disorder worldwide.

...

The International Federation of Green Crescent collaborates with Country Green Crescents worldwide to raise awareness, organize training programs and develop effective strategies to prevent the negative effects of gambling. The federation continues its efforts with the vision of creating a collective awareness against the harms of gambling, aiming to improve the health and well-being of communities.

In the past, the psychiatric community viewed gambling more as a compulsion than an addiction, motivated by an intense urge rather than a physical necessity. However, research over time has revealed that gambling addiction closely resembles alcoholism and drug addiction more than initially thought.

Symptoms of Gambling Addiction

The defining characteristic of gambling addiction is the complete immersion in gambling, being unable to quit despite negative consequences. Common symptoms include:

  • Engaging obsessively in gambling.
  • Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to experience the same excitement.
  • Unsuccessfully trying to control, reduce or stop gambling.
  • Feeling restless or irritable when unable to gamble.
  • Gambling to escape problems or alleviate feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety or depression.
  • Attempting to recoup lost money by further gambling.
  • Jeopardizing significant relationships or school/work opportunities due to gambling.
  • Resorting to theft or fraud to fund gambling.

People with gambling addiction cannot stop themselves from playing or set a loss limit when they lose; they feel compelled to continue playing to try to recover their money. In most cases, individuals end up losing more than intended, blame themselves for the amount of money lost and then try to compensate for the losses by playing more, leading to further financial losses. This destructive cycle results in many negative consequences.

Effects of Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction has a comprehensive impact, not only harming the individual but also affecting their family and society negatively. The effects include:

For the Individual:

  • Psychological issues.
  • Increased susceptibility to other addictions.
  • Becoming selfish and opportunistic in the pursuit of winning.
  • Neglecting responsibilities due to gambling obsession.
  • Involvement in a complex web of relationships that can lead to physical harm.
  • Financial losses.

For the Family:

  • Loss of trust within the family.
  • Financial losses.
  • Emotional losses.
  • Negative impact on family relationships due to relationships formed to finance gambling.

For Society:

  • Legitimizing ill-gotten gains, making easy money an ideal for new generations.
  • Illegal structures gaining power and wealth through these means.
  • Erosion of foundational societal concepts like hard work, justice and legality.
  • Damage to societal morals.
  • Manifestation of self-interest and the desire to win in social relationships.
  • Erosion of peace and trust in society.

What to Do?

To address gambling addiction, individuals should:

  • Stay away from places where gambling occurs, including online gambling sites.
  • Distance themselves from triggers that prompt thoughts of gambling (such as horse racing programs, casino advertisements, lottery tickets, etc.).
  • Avoid individuals associated with gambling.
  • Refrain from engaging in discussions about gambling.
  • Carry only the amount of money needed for daily necessities and avoid using credit cards and ATMs beyond necessity.
  • Change lifestyle, replacing negative habits with positive behaviors.
  • Seek support, reaching out to a trusted friend or family member for assistance.
  • Engage in other activities to redirect focus, such as housework, exercise, reading or spending time with family.

How Can We Help?

To prevent gambling and potential relapses, consider:

  • Setting financial limits and taking on financial responsibility within the family to prevent both gambling and relapses.
  • Preparing in advance for requests for money using begging, threats or accusations from the individual with gambling addiction and developing strategies to handle them.
  • Encouraging both yourself and the individual with gambling addiction to seek therapy for more effective coping with the problem.

Treatment Approach

Given the profound impact of this destructive habit on communities and families, treating pathological gambling as a public health issue is crucial. Successful treatment is possible by implementing a treatment model often used for substance addiction. Individuals with gambling addiction should be directed to the addiction treatment departments of hospitals.

To achieve success in a treatment program tailored to the individual, it is essential for the individual to first acknowledge that gambling addiction is a pathological disorder.

Green Crescent Counseling Center (YEDAM) Support for Gambling Addiction?

The Green Crescent Counseling Center (YEDAM) provides free psychosocial support for individuals with gambling addiction. This service, offered by the Turkish Green Crescent Society, aims to create motivation for quitting, prevent relapses and help individuals cope with the desire to gamble. Expert psychologists provide support for mental health issues that may arise after quitting gambling. In meetings with families, activities are conducted on topics such as money management, family relationships and parenting attitudes and skills. This valuable service seeks to establish an effective support network in preventing gambling addiction, aiming to improve the quality of life for individuals and increase societal awareness in addiction prevention.

More Latest News

...

The International Federation of Green Crescent (IFGC) successfully held its 5th Ordinary General Assembly on April 1, 2025, bringing together representatives from national Green Crescent organizations across the globe. The Assembly marked an important milestone in the Federation’s journey, with the election of new leadership and governance bodies, the approval of key amendments to the IFGC Charter, and the admission of new member organizations. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Dinç was elected as the new President of IFGC, and Amb. Dr. Mehmet Güllüoğlu was appointed as Secretary General. The Federation extends its sincere appreciation to all member organizations for their active participation, valuable contributions, and continued dedication to a healthier, addiction-free world. The General Assembly also approved several amendments to the IFGC Charter to enhance organizational effectiveness, strengthen governance, and better respond to global public health challenges. Board Structures for the 2025–2027 Term Board of Directors – Permanent Members Türkiye – Türkiye Yeşilay Vakfı Bulgaria – Yeshilay Bulgaria Association Australia – Green Crescent Australia Türkiye – Türkiye Yeşilay Cemiyeti Uganda – Uganda Green Crescent Society Serbia – Zeleni Krst - Zeleni Polumsejec Syria – Suriye Yeşilay Derneği Indonesia – Yayasan Green Crescent Indonesia Dagestan (RF) – Green Crescent Board of Directors – Substitute Members Austria – Verein Neubeginn Suchtprävention Ethiopia – Ethiopian Green Crescent Organization Lebanon – Stardom Association (Al Najm) Azerbaijan – Zererli Verdişlere Qarşı İctimai Birliyi Jordan – The Jordan Anti Drugs Society Albania – Fondacioni "Yesilay" Thailand – Green Crescent Thailand Supervisory Board (2025–2027) Permanent Members Zambia – Green Crescent Zambia North Macedonia – Zdruzenie Jesilaj Na Rsm Iraq – Ibn Sina Foundation for Improvement and Sustainable Development North Cyprus – Kıbrıs Türk Yeşilay Derneği Bosnia and Herzegovina – Udruzenje Gradjana Zeleni Polumjesec u Bosni i Hercegovini Substitute Members Bangladesh – Health and Economy Morocco – Croisan Vert Morocain Kosovo – Kosova Yeşilay Cemiyeti (Shoqëria Hana e Gjelbërt e Kosovës) High Advisory Board (2025–2027) General President of IFGC Previous President of IFGC Malaysia – Pertubuhan Bulan Sabit Hijau Malaysia Nigeria – Green Crescent Health Development Initiative Brazil – Conectados Pela Vida Tunisia – Madinaty Kyrgyzstan – Caşıl Ay Koomu South Africa – Green Crescent South Africa Sri Lanka – Green Crescent Foundation With renewed leadership and strengthened international cooperation, the Federation continues to advance its mission of promoting public health and addiction prevention worldwide.

Read More
...

The 8th International Capacity Building Program, organized under the leadership of the International Federation of Green Crescent (IFGC) and hosted by the Turkish Green Crescent Society, successfully brought together civil society leaders and public health experts from around the world. Held between April 30 and May 2, 2025, at the Green Crescent Headquarters in Istanbul, the program welcomed 120 participants from 60 countries. Over the course of three days, participants engaged in 12 workshops led by field experts and benefited from insights shared by 42 distinguished speakers, including representatives from Country Green Crescents. Key topics included capacity development, project design, destigmatization in treatment and recovery, and international advocacy—offering a rich platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration in the field of addiction prevention. Day 1: Opening Remarks and Collaborative Spirit The event began with keynote speeches from the Turkish Green Crescent Society and the International Federation of Green Crescent. Delegates from different countries gathered to share their knowledge and experiences, sending a message of solidarity and cooperation. Morning sessions featured global experts discussing addiction treatment, recovery processes, volunteerism, and public health. Notable contributions came from Esbjorn Hornberg (Movendi International), Dr. Hamad Al Ghafri (International Society of Addiction Medicine), Dr. Dzmitry Krupchanka (World Health Organization), Karen Peters (UNODC), and Guglielmo Schinina (International Organization for Migration), who addressed topics ranging from global prevention strategies to substance use among displaced populations. The day continued with parallel training sessions focused on prevention strategies and concluded with a social gathering including a Bosphorus cruise and gala dinner at night. Day 2: Thematic Deep Dives and Country Spotlights The second day began with international panel sessions exploring topics such as tobacco control, alcohol policies, technology addiction, and the preventive role of civil society. Speakers including Cornel Radu-Loghin (European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention), Florence Berteletti (European Alcohol Policy Alliance), and Dr. Tasnim Atatrah (World Health Organization, Turkey Office) shared insights on policy coherence, multisectoral collaboration, and regional approaches. Through parallel workshops, participants engaged with themes relevant to their specific interests. Representatives from Green Crescent Health Development Initiative (Nigeria), Everest Green Crescent (Nepal), and Turkish Green Crescent Society presented successful practices and fieldwork examples, contributing to a robust exchange of on-the-ground experiences. Day 3: Education, Sustainability, and Gender Sensitivity The final day started with a session highlighting the role of trainers in awareness-raising efforts. The agenda moved on to key themes like sustainable financing, gender-sensitive approaches, and international educational collaborations. A workshop led by Jan Peloza (Impact Hub Ljubljana) focused on practical strategies for sustainable resource mobilization. Institutions like UNODC ROSEE, UN Women, Africa House, and the Maarif Foundation added depth to the discussions and emphasized collaborative pathways for future engagement. Green Crescents from Stardom Association (Lebanon), Pertubuhan Bulan Sabit Hijau Malaysia, and Thai Green Crescent shared innovative projects aimed at empowering youth, and enhancing intercultural collaboration. These presentations provided a wealth of practical insights, showcasing real-world impact and cross-border learning. If you want to reach the Program Agenda please click

Read More

Contact Us

We would like to evaluate cooperation opportunities and communicate for joint projects.

Our Focus Points

To answer your questions in the fields of Addiction and Public Health...

All rights are reserved 2025 © International Federation of Green Cresent

Protection Policy

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

Copyright 2025 © International Federation of Green Cresent