The risk of repeat substance use in children can be high if no support follows the first contact. Çorum data, risk and protective factors, advice for families.
A child's first encounter with the police, the courts or a health service because of substance use is usually a moment of shock for the family. It is often followed by relief: "It happened once, they've learned their lesson, it's over now." Yet the data show that the risk of repeat substance use in children continues after this first contact. According to an academic study examining data from TÜİK (the Turkish Statistical Institute), in 2017, 88.5% of children who came or were brought to security units in Çorum because of an allegation involving narcotic or stimulant substances had come in for this reason more than once in the same year. In this article I will look at what this figure tells us, the psychological and social factors behind repeat incidents, and what families and schools can do. My aim is not to label any child; it is to show that, with the right support, the first contact can become a turning point.
What Do the Figures Say? Substances and Repeat Incidents in Çorum Data
The data on Çorum come from a master's thesis carried out at Ondokuz Mayıs University that examined TÜİK's provincial tables for 2008–2017 (Özcan, 2021):
- The share of substance offences increased: Among economically motivated allegations, the share of offences involving narcotic and stimulant substances was zero in 2008 and rose to 10.9% (23 incidents) in 2017.
- The repeat rate is high: In 2017, 88.5% of children who came in because of a substance allegation came in more than once. This rate is the highest in the TR83 region, which includes Çorum; it was 81.3% in Samsun, 83.3% in Tokat and 72.7% in Amasya.
- Repetition is not specific to substances: In the same year, 71.2% of children who came in because of a theft allegation had also come in more than once.
Across Turkey, according to TÜİK's 2025 data, 9.7% of the offences alleged against children pushed into crime relate to narcotic or stimulant substances. ("Children pushed into crime" is the term used in Turkish law for children alleged to have committed an offence.)
A study conducted with teachers in Çorum (Bektaş, 2022, Hitit University) completes the picture. In the research, in which 341 teachers took part, 73.6% of teachers saw harmful substance use, 77.1% saw absenteeism and dropping out of school, and 69.2% saw parental attitudes as risk factors for children being pushed into crime. Between 79% and 81% of teachers considered measures for early identification and monitoring to be effective.
The limits of the data
These figures need to be read very carefully:
- TÜİK data are numbers of incidents, not numbers of children. The same child can be counted several times in a year. This is precisely why a "repeat rate" can be calculated.
- The number of substance incidents in 2017 was small (23). With small numbers, percentages can fluctuate considerably.
- Provincial data for Çorum after 2018 and official data on substance use could not be accessed. We therefore do not know the current situation with certainty.
- Coming into contact with a security unit is only the visible part of substance-related behaviour; undetected use is not reflected in these data.
In short, these figures should be used not to say "substance use is widespread among children in Çorum", but to say "the process after the first contact is very important".
A Sociological Reading: If Substance Use in Children Recurs, Why?
There is no single reason for repeat incidents. The literature and the study of teachers in Çorum point to several possible factors that feed into one another.
An unchanged environment. After the first incident, the child returns to the same group of friends, the same street and the same school. If the environment that makes substances easy to obtain and normalises their use has not changed, the risk of recurrence remains high.
Disconnection from school. The risk factor teachers emphasised most was absenteeism and dropping out. A child whose attachment to school weakens loses the most important setting that structures their day and gives them a sense of achievement and belonging.
Difficulties within the family. A review of 64 studies on children pushed into crime in Turkey (Aslan, 2021) shows that neglect, abuse, poverty and divorce are among the important factors. A family's capacity to supervise a child can weaken under economic or emotional pressure.
Support being interrupted. Referring a child to a health or social services unit after the first incident can lose its effect if follow-up does not continue. In a study of 189 children pushed into crime who were assessed at a university hospital (Yıldız and colleagues, 2019), at least one psychiatric disorder was identified in 72.5% of the children, yet only 8.5% were under regular follow-up. This gap shows how fragile the chain of support after the first contact can be.
Overlap with victimisation. The same thesis shows that each year in Çorum, the number of children coming to security units as "victims" is around twice the number of children pushed into crime (1,702 incidents in 2017). This figure may partly reflect reporting and recording practices. However, the literature emphasises that children who have experienced victimisation may later be more exposed to risky behaviour. Asking whether there is neglect, violence or another form of victimisation in the history of a child who comes to a security unit because of substance use is a step that should not be missed in preventing recurrence.
Age period. According to TÜİK's 2025 data, around 72% of children pushed into crime in Turkey are in the 15–17 age group. This suggests that the final years of adolescence are a critical window in terms of both risk and intervention.
A Psychological Reading: The Feelings Behind Recurrence
Substance use is often an outcome; beneath it lie unmet needs, emotions that cannot be managed or a search for belonging.
Substances as a way of coping with emotions
Anxiety, anger, worthlessness, loneliness or the traces of a past trauma... A young person who does not know how to cope with these feelings may use substances as a way of "numbing" them. In that case, simply forbidding substances is not enough; the child needs to find other ways of regulating their emotions. When underlying problems such as attention difficulties, depression or anxiety go unnoticed, the risk of recurrence increases.
The need to belong and the peer group
Adolescence is a period in which the peer group becomes more important than the family. Being accepted within a group can be a powerful reason for trying and continuing to use substances. This is why parents' bans on "seeing those friends" often do not work on their own; young people need to be offered alternative places to belong. I discuss this subject separately for families worried about the wrong crowd.
Labelling and the feeling of "that's just what I am"
In sociology, labelling theory holds that constantly calling someone a "criminal", an "addict" or "trouble" can lead the person to adopt this label over time. Let us say a fifteen-year-old who has been talked about at school, in the neighbourhood and among relatives since the first incident is seen as "that kid" wherever he goes. After a while he may begin to tell himself, "Whatever I do, they see me like this, so it makes no difference." This feeling is one of the strongest psychological foundations for recurrence. For this reason, using the language of "a child pushed into crime" and "a child who needs support" rather than "a criminal child" is not just a matter of courtesy but a protective stance.
What protects a child most is feeling that doors are not closed to them even after their mistake.
Shame and silence within the family
Families also experience intense emotions during this process: shame, anger, guilt and fear. The question "Where did we go wrong?" sometimes leads to harsh punishments for the child, and sometimes to the subject being closed off altogether. Both attitudes can fall short in preventing recurrence. A family environment in which the child can explain themselves and talk without fear of punishment is one of the most important barriers to recurrence.
A hopeful fact: most young people leave this period behind
According to Moffitt's (1993) distinction in developmental psychology, most rule-breaking behaviour seen in adolescence is "adolescence-limited" and declines markedly in adulthood. In a smaller group, however, problems begin in early childhood and persist; early and intensive support matters most for these children. This knowledge reminds families and teachers that the first incident is not destiny; with the right support, this period can become a turning point.
Suggestions for Preventing Repeat Substance Use in Children
For families:
- Stay calm and talk. Shouting or punishing as a first reaction is understandable; but understanding what your child is really going through requires a calm conversation. Asking "What were you going through at that time?" instead of "Why did you do it?" keeps the door open.
- Do not drop the follow-up. See through to the end the health, social services or counselling process to which your child was referred after the first incident. Even if your child says "I'm fine now", do not miss follow-up appointments.
- Develop a warm but boundary-setting attitude. Knowing where your child is and who they are with is not control but care. Setting rules together and applying them consistently provides both trust and structure.
- Open up alternative spaces. Sport, music, skills courses, youth centres or voluntary work can give your child a new circle of friends and a sense of achievement.
- Work together with the school. Meeting the guidance teacher regularly makes it possible to notice absenteeism and difficulties at school early.
- Share your own burden too. Parents also need support during this process. My article on substance use in adolescents offers a more general framework for families.
For schools:
- Prioritise keeping the student in school rather than excluding them. Attachment to school is one of the strongest protective factors.
- Take care to protect confidentiality. Talking about the incident in the classroom or the staff room speeds up labelling.
- Watch for early warning signs. Sudden absenteeism, falling grades, a change of friendship group and withdrawal are signs that should be shared with the guidance service.
When Should You Seek Professional Support?
If an incident related to substance use has occurred, professional support should be sought without waiting. It is especially important not to delay in the following situations:
- If your child has had contact with a security unit or a health service even once because of substances,
- If there are sudden changes in their sleep pattern, appetite, circle of friends and school performance,
- If money or belongings are going missing from home, or your child frequently lies or comes home late,
- If your child shows intense anger, anxiety, low mood or attention problems,
- If, as a family, you do not know how to cope with this situation and feel helpless.
Addiction treatment units for children and adolescents (ÇEMATEM, Turkey's state child and adolescent addiction treatment centres) and child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinics are among the services that can be approached during this process. If there are signs of poisoning such as confusion, difficulty breathing, seizures or extreme drowsiness, or if your child talks about thoughts of harming themselves, call 112 (emergency services) without delay.
How Are Substance Use and Relapse Prevention Addressed in Therapy?
Medical assessment and treatment of substance use are the responsibility of a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Psychological support is a complementary and important part of this process. In work carried out within adolescent counselling, the following areas come to the fore:
- Strengthening motivation: Talking about the young person's ambivalence about change without judgement and helping them find their own reasons.
- Recognising triggers: Noticing which emotions, settings and people increase the urge to use substances.
- Coping skills: Developing ways of coping with anxiety, anger and distress other than substances; working on skills for saying no and solving problems.
- Family sessions: Working together with parents on communication, boundaries and supervision.
- Underlying problems: Addressing depression, anxiety, attention problems or traces of trauma if present, and collaborating with a psychiatrist where necessary.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the approaches frequently used in relapse prevention work. Therapy does not promise to "save" a young person; it offers them and their family structured support that helps them feel they are not alone while going through a difficult period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does substance use in children recur?
It can. According to a study examining TÜİK data, in 2017, 88.5% of children who came to security units in Çorum because of a substance allegation had come in more than once during the year. But this is not destiny; regular follow-up after the first contact, family support and attachment to school can reduce the risk of recurrence.
My child was caught once; does this mean they are addicted?
No, a single incident does not mean addiction. However, it may be a sign of difficulties your child is going through. An assessment by a child and adolescent psychiatrist is the healthiest step for understanding how serious the situation is.
Does banning them from seeing their friends work?
Bans on their own are often insufficient and can lead the young person to behave secretly. Rather than a ban, offering the young person new places to belong, agreeing on rules together with them and keeping communication open is more protective.
As a teacher, how should I handle signs I suspect in a student?
Share your observations without judgement with the school's guidance service and protect the student's privacy. Taking steps to strengthen the student's attachment to school, rather than exposing them in class or removing them from school, is more effective in preventing recurrence.
Bu yazı genel bilgilendirme amaçlıdır; tanı veya tedavi yerine geçmez. Yaşadığınız güçlükler için bir ruh sağlığı uzmanına başvurmanız önerilir. Acil bir durumda lütfen 112'yi arayın.
Eda Erkan Alapala
Klinik Psikolog. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Klinik Psikoloji Tezli Yüksek Lisans mezunu; bilişsel davranışçı terapi, çocuk merkezli oyun terapisi ve çocuk-ergen psikoterapisi alanlarında eğitimlerini tamamlamıştır.
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