Life is in this message

Initiating a campus-wide campaign called ‘Elden Ele’ (Hand-to-Hand) to raise awareness among youth about the harms of smoking, Izmir University of Economics (IUE) has brought hope to young people seeking to quit addiction at an early age. The initiative, which first started in May and continues at regular intervals, was last carried out this past week. Throughout the day, notes were distributed to students containing a message outlining the steps to take to quit smoking.

AN ILLNESS THAT ‘CAN BE TREATED’

Academics and students walked around the campus and placed a note in the palm of anyone they saw, whether they smoked or not, which read: “Nicotine addiction is a treatable illness. If you or your loved ones suffer from this illness, and you wish to overcome the addiction, all you need to do is contact us via our website. We hope to live together on a healthy campus.”

“WE BROKE A RECORD WITH 150.4 BILLION UNITS”

Prof. Dr. Oğuz Kılınç from IUE Faculty of Medicine, stated that the initiative, which began six months ago, has had a positive impact and that all students who want to quit nicotine addiction can seek help from them. Emphasizing that they provide one-on-one support to all students who apply, Prof. Dr. Kılınç pointed out that, according to official research, one out of every three people in Turkey uses tobacco. Prof. Dr. Kılınç reminded everyone that, according to the records of the Ministry of Agriculture's Tobacco and Alcohol Market Regulation Authority, 150.4 billion cigarettes were consumed in 2024, which is a record in the history of the Republic of Turkey. Prof. Dr. Kılınç said, “We have started a mobilization on our campus to reduce cigarette use. Our fight against smoking, which negatively affects the lives of youth and is the fundamental cause of many illnesses today, will continue with determination. As long as they want to quit nicotine addiction, we will always be by their side.”

“QUITTING SMOKING IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE”

Prof. Dr. Kılınç continued as follows: “As a University, we see it as a top priority for our students to live a healthy life and to develop as conscious individuals on their educational journey. The ‘Elden Ele’ awareness initiative, which we launched as a reflection of this understanding, has become an important part of our campus culture. With this campaign, which we started in May and continue at regular intervals, we aimed to simply and clearly convey the roadmap our students can follow in the process of quitting smoking. Escaping the cycle of addiction at a young age is by no means an impossible situation. We also see that correct information, a supportive environment, and an awareness-based approach make a big difference in this process.”

“A SOLIDARITY NETWORK HAS FORMED”

Prof. Dr. Aslı Ceylan Öner, IUE Vice-Rector and Healthy Campus Coordinator, stated that they established a healthy campus commission to reach out to students in need within the university. Prof. Dr. Öner said, “We observe that the informational notes we distribute create a positive interaction among students, and many students share these messages with each other, forming a solidarity network. This strengthens the desire of young people to adopt healthier choices for both themselves and their friends. This initiative is one of the important steps where we reach the youth, encourage behavioral change in them, and achieve promising results in the fight against addiction. In the coming periods, we will continue to develop projects that focus on the needs of our students, prioritizing participation and awareness.”