GENERAL INFORMATION
 

Project title
 

STRENGTHENING THE TURKISH NATIONAL MONITORING CENTER FOR DRUGS AND DRUGS ADDICTION

Priority area
 

Justice, Freedom and Security

Beneficiary

The Turkish Monitoring and Prevention Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (TUBIM)

Co-Beneficiary
 

Duration

Duration: 25 Months

Start: 11/02/2009

End: 11/03/2011

EU contribution (Euro)

€ 1,923,000

PROJECT SUMMARY

Brief description of the project and main objectives
 

Turkey lies on one of the main global transit routes for drugs and is therefore affected by both trafficking and what is estimated to be an increasing rate of drug addiction prevalence its society. An agreement concerning the participation of Turkey in the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) was initiated in August 2004. With respect to participation in the EMCDDA, the Turkish Monitoring and Prevention Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (TUBIM) was established under the Anti-smuggling and Organized Crime Department of the Turkish National Police. Since 2004, Turkey has made considerable progress through TUBIM in the area of coordination and data collection.

A (first) Twinning project on the “Establishment of a National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Development and Implementation of a National Drug Strategy” supported TUBIM as the National Focal Point to implement coordination and data collection, analyse, and suggest policies in relation to EMCDDA. A library and a documentation centre were significant outcomes of that intervention. Specific working groups for each EMCDDA key indicator (drug related deaths, infectious diseases, drug supply and demand, problem drug use, population surveys, prevalence etc.) have been operational.

However further assistance was required to provide for more cooperation at national and international level, data collection and analysis. Notably, there have been no recent surveys of drug use among general population and schools. A national drugs strategy was adapted in 2006 and an Action Plan (2007-2009) was adopted accordingly. TUBIM staff were still in need of training to meet EMCDDA requirements and to contribute to the implementation of the Action Plan. Another issue to be addressed was the closer co-operation between TUBIM, law enforcement agencies, relevant ministries, civil society actors and the media in an efficient national network. This necessitated a second Twinning project (2009-2011) which was subject to the ROM ex-post evaluation presented here.
 

Location

Achievements / expected outputs

Result 1: Institutional structure of the EMCDDA’s Turkish National Focal Point (TUBIM) at national and international level developed (TUBIM will have a more specific legal status and organizational framework including an autonomous budget. The increase of data both in quantity and quality in annual reports to be submitted in line with EMCDDA requirements)

Result 2: Technical capacity of TUBIM increased (The increase of data both in quantity and quality in annual reports to be submitted in line with EMCDDA requirements. Staff adequately equipped and trained.

Result 3: Awareness of Non-Governmental Organizations and mass-media institutions of their responsibilities developed and their willingness to cooperate in this field increased. (Increase in the number of joint works including publications, broadcasting and news in the media. Increase in the number and activities of NGOs.

Result 4: Data collection means nationwide with regard to treatment, forensic labs and supply reduction compatible with EMCDDDA standardised. Increase in quality of data coming from state hospitals and universities as well as from forensic labs concerning the purity of drugs and new type of drugs.

Result 5: National capacity of scientific studies based on an appropriate methodology which supports prevention, intervention and reduction activity on drugs and drug abuse increased. (Increase quality and quantity of scientific studies in drugs and drug abuse by the end of the project)

Result 6: The capacity of the agencies and institutions against drug and drug abuse with regard to project-oriented work increased and Exchange on Drug Demand Reduction Action (EDDRA) supported. (Number of joint projects between relevant institutions is increased during the implementation of this project. Number of project and programmes reported to the EDDRA by the end of the project).