Free Village Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre
We, Özgür Köy Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, are a social responsibility project serving in Temelli district of Ankara since April 2022. Our centre was established within the framework of the cooperation between Lokman Hekim University and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality. We aim to treat individuals in a holistic manner by adopting a scientific, ethical and human-oriented approach in the field of addiction treatment. Özgür Köy Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre is an institution with the licence of AMATEM (Alcohol and Substance Addiction Treatment Centre) and ÇEMATEM (Child and Adolescent Alcohol and Substance Addiction Treatment Centre) issued by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey.
Observing that there is a lack of long-term and comprehensive approaches in the fight against addiction in our country, we established the Özgür Köy Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in order to eliminate this deficiency and to pioneer the establishment of similar centres. In addition, we aim to provide education, research and social contribution to preventive measures in the fight against addiction.
Our centre has a total area of 20,485 square metres and provides outpatient (outpatient clinic) and/or inpatient (clinic) services to people diagnosed with alcohol, substance and gambling addiction and requesting treatment. The centre has a total bed capacity of 39, of which 17 beds are reserved for male addiction clinic, 6 for female addiction clinic, 8 for integrated clinic and 8 for child addiction clinic.
In cooperation with Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, we are committed to helping needy and orphaned addicted individuals. The cooperation in expanding the space of our centre in accordance with the project requirements aims to increase social welfare in the fight against addiction and contribute to the construction of a healthy society. We are here for you and your loved ones by adopting a scientifically based and human-centred approach in the fight against addiction.
Our Physical Structure
Our centre building has one floor and includes a dining hall, gymnasium (table tennis, running bicycle), activity rooms, group therapy rooms, multi-purpose hall, psychosocial support unit interview rooms, dormitories, doctor and staff rooms, security rooms and camera systems. There are also painting/ handicraft activity workshop areas, vegetable-fruit gardens, volleyball-basketball court, special care room, treatment preparation room, meeting room, library and activity room (including books-newspapers, chess, backgammon, jigsaw puzzles) where addicted individuals can engage in activities and spend time. There are also common areas where our patients can relax, watch TV, store their personal belongings and use their kitchens. There are also special rooms where they can do sports and play activities.
Our team
We will accompany your healing journey with our medical team consisting of specialist doctors, psychologists, social workers and nurses under the direction of Psychiatry Specialist Prof. Dr. Zehra ARIKAN and a team of experts in the fields of occupational therapy.
Free Village: The New Way of Treatment and Rehabilitation
Ozgur Village Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre is an institution that aims to provide services to its patients with a multidisciplinary approach by offering the latest methods and conditions stipulated by modern medical science. Our patients are treated with this perspective and are closely monitored with constantly updated scientific developments. It is a pioneering centre that simultaneously treats additional psychiatric diseases with addiction in a separate service (integrated clinic). In addition, inpatient treatment options are offered for behavioural addictions.
In our centre, customised treatment protocols are created and implemented according to the unique needs of each patient. Evidence-based, patient-oriented and individualised treatment practices are taken as a basis. Preventive services and rehabilitation are as important as treatment. In addition, clinical and pre-clinical research in the field of addiction contributes to national and international medical literature.
Who Can Apply?
Individuals 18 years of age and older can apply if they want to fight against alcohol, substance and gambling addiction and seek treatment. In addition, children under the age of 18 can also benefit from treatment services for alcohol, substance, gambling, gaming and technology addictions.
What do we do?
As Özgür Köy, we provide psychological and social support to people struggling with alcohol, substance and gambling addiction and support their return to life. We offer this service free of charge to individuals with social security. We also provide support to the families and relatives of our patients, helping them to improve their living arrangements and establish healthy relationships. We accept our patients on an appointment system and implement the inpatient treatment programme in a comfortable environment with an experienced healthcare team. We see the treatment process as a journey and aim to help our patients reach their goals. We carry out addiction treatment with a three-stage model:
1. Determining the level of addiction.
2. Stopping tobacco, alcohol, substance use and controlling gambling behaviour.
3. Creating a new lifestyle and changing old habits.
To achieve these steps, we use methods such as individual interviews, group work, family counselling and social support. We also use occupational therapy to help our patients adapt to social life.
We organise meetings on certain days of the week to encourage our patients to share their feelings and tell us about important events they have experienced. By combining these meetings with SAMBA (Smoking, Alcohol and Substance Addiction Treatment Programme) conducted by psychologists and social workers, we raise awareness about the addiction process and support the sharing of experiences. In addition, we evaluate the treatment processes of the patients during the visits made by the treatment team and create personal follow-up plans after discharge. Our rehabilitation programme includes various activities such as painting, music, personal development and sports. These activities help our patients gain new experiences, increase their motivation and contribute more to their treatment process.
Painting, handicraft and music courses are organised for our patients by teachers appointed by the Public Education Directorate. The artefacts resulting from these courses are exhibited in our hospital. When the treatment is completed, our patients are referred to the outpatient clinic and follow-up processes continue. Our aim is to support the return of individuals struggling with addiction and their families to a healthy life.
About our Integrated Service
Alcohol and substance addiction is an increasingly serious public health problem in the world and in our country. These addictions often co-occur with psychiatric problems, making diagnosis, treatment and recovery processes complex. Recent research shows that psychiatric symptoms associated with alcohol and substance addiction are quite common. Therefore, it is crucial to use a combination of psychological and psychiatric approaches during addiction treatment. Otherwise, ignoring these symptoms may negatively affect the recovery process and increase the risk of relapse.
Our centre is a pioneering centre that aims to treat addiction and psychiatric disorders together. Here, we offer a service that responds to the needs of both those struggling with addiction and those with psychiatric problems in an integrated manner.
About our Paediatric Alcohol and Drug Addiction Service
The Pediatric Alcohol and Drug Addiction Service within the Özgür Köy Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre is a specially designed treatment unit for children under the age of 18. In this service, a comprehensive approach is offered to children struggling with addiction, aiming to protect their physical, mental and emotional health. The treatment processes carried out by a team of experts in the field are enriched with group and individual therapies, counselling services, educational programmes and rehabilitation support tailored to the individual needs of each child. The service aims to provide a safe and supportive environment for children to step into a healthy future.
