This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
Since I began my career in journalism, I have reviewed the past two to three months of each year to understand what has transpired in the country through various channels. Of course, the most reliable way to do this is by examining data, listening to academics, and reading reports published by official institutions for public awareness. The most valuable dataset that has captured my attention over the last three years is the NARKOLOG Report prepared by the Presidency of Fight Against Narcotic Crimes. The report offers a comprehensive perspective on Turkey’s drug problem. Let us examine it together 2025 report.
The NARKOLOG Report, prepared by the General Directorate of Security under the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Türkiye, provides a detailed analysis of who drug users are, the conditions under which they live, the types of substances they use, and how this phenomenon transforms within the family, societal, and security dimensions Türkiye.
This dataset, based on the testimonies of tens of thousands of users, is not limited to tables and graphs; it also presents a strategic snapshot that can guide Türkiye’s fight against drugs.
Gender Distribution - NARKOLOG 2025
According to the 2024 NARKOLOG data, the vast majority of the 18,620 individuals analyzed are male. Approximately 93% of the sample are men, while only 7% are women. This pattern demonstrates that drug-related offenses remain a predominantly male-dominated domain.
83.6% of participants live in provincial or district centers. Thus, the problem is not primarily rural but deepens in urban centers, where social density is highest.
Education Status - NARKOLOG 2025
Regarding education level, only 37% have completed high school or higher. This aligns with literature indicating that higher education correlates with reduced likelihood of drug involvement. On the other hand, 60.8% report having regular employment, with labor and construction sectors being the most common occupations. Thus, the drug problem cannot be simply explained by the cliché of a “jobless and entirely marginalized population.”
Occupational Distribution by Employment Status - NARKOLOG 2025
Data show that the majority of drug users do not live in isolation from their families; in fact, most continue to reside in the same household as their family members. 86.1% of the sample live with their families, and even among those who use drugs at home, 82.8% share the same roof with relatives.
Who Do They Live With? - NARKOLOG 2025
The majority of mothers are homemakers, and a significant portion of fathers have regular income. Thus, the notion of a “non-working, disorganized family structure” alone is insufficient as an explanation. Data on domestic violence also reveal a complex picture: more than one-third of participants report no violence within the family. However, when examining specific drug groups and female users, violence and conflict become significantly more prominent.
The average age of initiation into drug use is around 22.5. However, the most at-risk group is the 15–24 age range, which constitutes two-thirds of all users. Put more clearly: initiation into drug use is predominantly concentrated in adolescence and early adulthood.
Pre-drug tobacco use stands at 83.3%, and alcohol use at 38.8%. This suggests tobacco serves as a critical gateway to further substance use. The first substance tried, as in most countries, is overwhelmingly hashish, followed by methamphetamine and synthetic cannabinoids (bonzai).
First Substance Tried - NARKOLOG 2025
A similar shift is observed in usage trends over time: hashish remains the most common, but usage rates of methamphetamine and bonzai have risen significantly. This pattern indicates that hashish often functions as a “gateway substance”, with a substantial portion of users progressing over time toward heavier narcotics.
The most frequently cited reason for initiation is “curiosity.” More than one-third of participants explain their first use as driven by curiosity. Friend peer pressure and the pursuit of entertainment or pleasure further supplement this motivation.
The primary source of initial access to drugs is overwhelmingly peer networks. 80.7% of participants report obtaining drugs for the first time from a friend or someone in their close circle. This transforms the drug problem from a mere individual choice into a matter of social environment and belonging.
According to NARKOLOG data, more than half of users consume drugs in their own homes. Public space use has declined noticeably compared to previous years. This reflects the impact of law enforcement pressure and monitoring mechanisms, while also indicating that drug use has become more hidden and confined to private spaces.
Families often become aware of the problem too late. Only 43.1% of cases are known to the family. Moreover, families typically learn of the issue after an average of 17 months. The first family member to notice is most often the mother. This underscores that mothers are central to the process, both emotionally and observationally, highlighting how critical the role of mothers is in prevention and early intervention programs.
Who Do Those Who Use Drugs at Home Live With? - NARKOLOG 2025
40% of participants report experiencing social difficulties, with family relationship breakdown being the most common. Drug use is not merely an individual health and security issue; it emerges as a factor that damages family bonds and disrupts domestic equilibrium.
The second section of the report examines how specific user groups differ from the general profile. Two substances stand out here: methamphetamine and synthetic cannabinoids (bonzai).
Methamphetamine users constitute approximately 43% of the total sample. The proportion of women in this group is higher than the overall average. Indicators such as living alone, being divorced, or initiating drug use within marriage are more common in this group compared to other users.
When examining reasons for initiation among methamphetamine users, it is not only curiosity but also peer pressure, personal problems, and family conflicts that play a prominent role. Rates of domestic violence and violence between spouses are higher in this group.
A notable point is that methamphetamine users are more likely to attempt to quit and more frequently state, “I want to be treated.” At the same time, they are less likely to claim, “I am not addicted.” This suggests that methamphetamine has a high addictive potential and rapidly pushes users to recognize their problem.
Use is not confined to homes alone; abandoned places, derelict buildings, hotels, and daily-rented apartments are also common. Additionally, methamphetamine users face a higher likelihood of encountering crimes such as violations of firearms regulations.
Gender Distribution Among Methamphetamine Users - NARKOLOG 2025
Users of synthetic cannabinoids (bonzai) form a group of approximately 24%. This group has a lower age of initiation and lower educational attainment than the general profile. Non-literate individuals and those with only primary or middle school education are relatively more numerous. The proportion reporting “I have regular employment” is low, while the proportion working in temporary jobs is high.
Regarding family structure, low parental cohabitation and high rates of domestic violence and conflict are striking. Family problems are more frequently cited as reasons for initiation, alongside entertainment, pleasure-seeking, and escapism.
In this group, crimes against property (such as theft) are more prevalent. This reveals that drug use reinforces a cycle of economic pressure, criminal behavior, and social exclusion.
Although the overall user population is predominantly male, data on female users present a distinct alarm. Female users have higher educational levels than males, with a greater proportion holding high school or university degrees. Nevertheless, unemployment rates among women are much higher. Among employed women, jobs such as waitressing, hairdressing, cashiering, and cleaning dominate the service sector.
Women begin using drugs later than men but show a stronger tendency to progress toward heavier substances (methamphetamine, heroin, synthetic drugs, ecstasy). Personal problems, family issues, and peer pressure are more frequently cited as reasons for initiation.
Rates of violence between parents, divorce, and domestic violence are also significantly higher among female users. Often, their first substance is obtained through a partner or romantic partner, demonstrating how relationship dynamics can be decisive in drug use. Use occurs primarily at home, friends’ homes, and hotels or daily-rented spaces.
The NARKOLOG Project is a system designed to understand not only how many drugs are seized, but who the users are in the fight against drugs.
The collected data scientifically reveal:
NARKOLOG Cover Image - NARKOLOG 2025
Thus, it enables more targeted actions across many areas—from designing educational campaigns to planning social services, from school-based programs to family-centered awareness initiatives.
We can summarize NARKOLOG with this metaphor:
This report is like a navigational chart for a vessel fighting drugs. It does not merely indicate where dangerous waters lie (drug use), but also where the people caught in those waters come from (demographic and family profiles), why they set sail (initiation reasons), and which currents (specific risks of substances like methamphetamine and bonzai) are dragging them toward what destinations. With this knowledge, intervention teams can now chart their course not in darkness, but in the light of scientific data.
Who Uses Drugs? General Profile: Young, Male, Urban
Family Dynamics: Invisible Distance Within the Same Home
Age of Initiation, First Substances, and the Cost of Curiosity
Home Use, Delayed Recognition, and the Role of the Family
Methamphetamine and Bonzai: Special Profiles, High Risks
Methamphetamine Users: High Addiction, High Conflict
Bonzai Users: Low Education, High Vulnerability
Female Users: Later Start, Heavier Substances
What Is the Purpose of NARKOLOG? From Data to Strategy
