More Drug Addict Rehabilitated | ||
More Drug Addict Rehabilitated Over 300,000 drug addicts have successfully kicked their destructive habit in Iran. Announcing this, Taha Taheri, the deputy head of Iran’s Drug Control Headquarters, said drug users in Iran receive both spiritual and health assistance to abandon their habits. Taheri, who was attending a special ceremony in Hamedan province to celebrate the rehabilitation of 3,000 drug users in the province, said the methods used by Iranian rehabilitation centers are standardized. “Those attending the rehabilitation centers have a better chance of giving up their habits and returning to normal life,” he said. The official added that the government attaches high importance to enhancing the quality of life of ex-addicts and their families. “The government supports policies with regard to the treatment of addicts in Iran,” he said. Taheri said that in order to encourage drug addicts to kick their habit, a number of policies have been announced by the government, such as the allocation of 5 percent of employment share in each province to ex-drug users. The official added that these individuals will be supported by the government to buy house and pay their treatment expenses. “Annually, 25,000 drug users kick their habit in Iran,” he said. The latest figures show that about 2 million drug addicts are in Iran. Opium has long been the narcotic of choice among Iranians. Iran lies on a major drug route between Afghanistan and the West, and has spent millions of dollars and lost more than 3,700 security forces in the unending war on drugs since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The recent boom in Afghan opium production, propelled by a resurgent Taliban, has had an increasing impact on Iranians--both young and old. Because Iran lies on a popular transit corridor between opium producers in Afghanistan and opium consumers in Europe, the country faces added pressure to secure its borders and seize more incoming drug shipments. According to figures released by the United Nations, Iran ranks first among states striving to prevent the entry of drugs on or through their territory. The United Nations credits Iran with the seizure of 80 percent of the opium netted around the world. Iran has counter-narcotics agreements with several European, Asian, and Central Asian states. In addition, Tehran participates in a number of multilateral agencies involved in controlling drug abuse, including the Drug Control Coordination Unit of the Economic Cooperation Organization and the 6+2 group (comprising six Central Asian states plus Russia and the United States). Iran is a party to two UN treaties aimed at counter narcotics. | ||
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