Criticism of the approval of the plan to distribute methadone through pharmacies in Iran

A number of activists and activists fighting addiction in Iran have criticized the approval of the plan to "distribute narcotic drugs and methadone through pharmacies," instead of providing drugs and medical services in one package and one center.

The plan to distribute narcotic drugs through pharmacies was presented by the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters and proposed by the Ministry of Health.

As announced by the Iranian Food and Drug Administration last year, under this plan, methadone and narcotics will be distributed in packages at a selected pharmacy.

Methadone is an industrial opioid used as an antidote to heroin, opium, and other narcotics. 

With the new plan, the sale of methadone directly to patients will be practically prohibited and will be transferred to pharmacies.

But this plan has faced criticism, and it seems that not much time has been given to implement it.

Among the criticisms has been raised by the National Association of Addiction Therapists.

Mojtaba Ghalibi, the head of the center, told ISNA news agency, "To quit addiction, medication and treatment services must be provided to patients together in one package and one center. If medication is separated from treatment services, not only are we violating international and national laws, but social harms will also increase."

Mr. Ghalibi also says that providing treatment and medicine in a center is supported by "international laws of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime" and Iran's own laws.

According to Mojtaba Ghalibi, separating medication and treatment could lead to an "addiction epidemic in the country" and "white-collar addicts not visiting pharmacies due to fear."

However, a spokesperson for the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters said, "There is no need to worry." The secretary of the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters' Treatment and Social Support Committee also emphasized, "Methadone is of high sensitivity among national officials."

Source: Radio Farda