Development of a Preventive Model for Combating Addiction among Migrant Youth

 

The project “Development of a Preventive Model for Combating Addiction among Migrant Youth”, supported under Erasmus+ KA220 by the Turkish National Agency, is coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Gülerce from our institute, in collaboration with the Green Crescent, Oslo Municipality (Norway), and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (Germany). Spanning a total of twenty-four months, the project aims to develop a preventive training model against addiction that is internationally applicable, trauma-informed, and sensitive to cultural diversity for migrant youth.

Within the scope of the project, training-of-trainers programs will be delivered to 100 professionals, and a total of 2000 migrant youth will be reached. In addition, the digital training modules to be developed will be made open-access, enabling anyone in need worldwide to access the training online easily. In this way, the project seeks to protect as many migrant youth as possible from addiction while supporting their active participation in social life.

As part of the project, the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf will provide intervention training for 20 experts, ensuring that the module is strengthened in terms of trauma-informed and intervention processes.

The project outputs are also intended to be disseminated at national and international levels through academic publications. For this purpose, a special issue of the journal ADDICTA on Migration and Addiction will be prepared under the editorship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Gülerce.

Kick-Off Meeting

In February 2025, the partners convened at the Green Crescent headquarters in Istanbul. The project was launched with an opening speech by Green Crescent President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Dinç.

 

     1. Development of Training Content

 

Following the launch, all partners continue to meet at regular intervals. In these meetings, academic findings are shared, and project development is ensured. Each partner contributes to the design of the training content within their field of expertise, thereby creating a multi-layered, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed approach that is continuously reinforced.

 

    2. Development of the Online Training Module

This work package includes the creation of one of the project’s innovative outputs: a digital and open-access training platform. The contents determined with the contribution of all partners will be prepared in line with the needs of the target group, incorporating audio, visual, and written materials, and will be made available through the online module.

    3. Implementation Process

Training-of-Trainers
First, 100 professionals will be trained through training-of-trainers programs, after which each partner institution will implement activities in their respective countries. The project aims to reach a total of 2000 migrant youth and to conduct pilot studies of the training module.

Intervention Training
Under the coordination of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20 professionals from all partners will receive specialized training on intervention and trauma processes. This will ensure that the training content adopts a trauma-sensitive structure and includes intervention methods where necessary.

    4. Dissemination and Evaluation Processes

To extend the reach of the project outcomes, results will be shared through the communication channels and social media platforms of the partners and disseminated to relevant public institutions and non-governmental organizations. In addition, at the closing meeting to be held in Istanbul, project outcomes will be presented, an overall evaluation will be conducted, and a roadmap for the future will be outlined. In this way, awareness regarding migrant youth will be increased, and the usability of the training content across various institutions and countries will be promoted.

Addicta Journal

As part of the dissemination activities, a special issue on Migration and Addiction will be prepared in the journal Addicta, with contributions from the project partners. Edited by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Gülerce from our institute, this issue aims to enhance academic visibility in the field of migration and addiction and provide a new platform for international research.

Call for Papers: Migration and Addiction