Oya Bahadır Yüksel Psychiatric Clinic

Oya Bahadır Yüksel Psychiatric Clinic is one of the few institutions in Türkiye providing substance addiction treatment and rehabilitation services under the administration of a local authority. It stands out for its comprehensive and pioneering service model in this field. Operating within İnayet Topçuoğlu Hospital, which is affiliated with Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, the center began its activities as a Youth Center in 2008. On 26 March 2015, it was transformed into a psychiatric clinic affiliated with the municipal hospital and began providing services with a capacity of 60 beds.

With the support of Fiba Holding, the center’s program was developed in collaboration with Professor Dr David J. Powell of Yale University’s Department of Psychiatry, Dr Esra Çavuşoğlu and their team. The center provides street outreach, addiction counselling, treatment services—including detoxification, maintenance treatment and the management of comorbid conditions—medical rehabilitation, social rehabilitation through the Social Adaptation Center, and follow-up services.

Developed on the basis of practices addressing substance use disorders in adolescence, the Gaziantep Model offers highly distinctive content that combines behavioral sciences, evidence-based practices and the principles of the 12-step model, fostering an effective and humane approach to the treatment of substance addiction.

In cooperation with the local authorities and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, vocational training courses continue to be provided for patients who are successfully progressing with their treatment at the clinic. Every patient admitted to the treatment and rehabilitation program is supported in continuing their education.

Operating around the clock, the mobile team consists of two vehicles, two drivers and professional staff. Across Gaziantep’s central districts, the team conducts fieldwork in locations that may potentially be used for substance use, such as parks, abandoned buildings and cemeteries. It also carries out home visits to monitor children and adolescents registered in the system, as well as night-time fieldwork. During the day, the team visits local businesses, coffeehouses, neighborhood administrative offices, Family Health Centers, social facilities, places of worship, schools and similar institutions for information and awareness-raising purposes.