HÜDA PAR (Free Cause Party) has called for mandatory drug testing for people seeking employment in public institutions and periodic screening of existing public-sector employees, saying drug abuse poses a growing threat to families, young people and social stability.

In its weekly assessment of political and social developments, the party said the fight against drug abuse should not be left solely to law enforcement agencies but should involve a broader strategy encompassing prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

“Drugs are among the greatest social threats facing not only individuals but also families, young people, social peace and our future,” HÜDA PAR said.

The party cited a decision by Ankara’s Keçiören Municipality to voluntarily screen its employees for drug use as an example of how public institutions could take greater responsibility in combating drug abuse.

HÜDA PAR called for drug tests to become a requirement for recruitment to public institutions and for serving employees to undergo testing at regular intervals. It said testing should be conducted by independent, qualified laboratories, with positive results confirmed through additional tests and personal data and fundamental rights protected under legal safeguards.

The party said the primary objective of drug policy should be preventing people, particularly young people, from developing substance-use disorders.

It also called for a comprehensive system covering the identification, treatment and rehabilitation of people suffering from drug addiction, followed by measures aimed at helping them return to society.

“The most important task in combating drug abuse is to protect all our citizens, particularly our young people, from becoming addicted to drugs,” the party said.

HÜDA PAR also called for public officials found to be using drugs to complete necessary treatment and rehabilitation programmes before returning to their duties.

It urged tougher penalties for officials involved in drug trafficking or who use their positions or authority to facilitate the spread of drugs.

The party said the effectiveness of anti-drug efforts should not be assessed solely by the number of police operations conducted or the quantity of drugs seized.

“Success in combating drug abuse should be measured not only by the number of operations conducted or the amount of drugs seized, but by the number of people who have been protected from drugs, treated and successfully reintegrated into society,” HÜDA PAR said. (ILKHA)