Increasing use of emerging drugs among Iranian youth

Iranian authorities have announced the average age of addiction in Iran as 24, warning of the prevalence of new drug use among young people and the unprecedented discovery of 3 tons of drugs in Tehran last year.

The Secretary-General of the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters announced on Tuesday, February 1, that the average age of addiction in Iran is 24 years and a few months, and that the prevalence rate of addiction in the country's active population is 5 percent.

Eskandar Momeni also announced the prevalence rate of addiction among students at 2%.

Although he concluded, referring to these statistics, that Iran's situation in the field of drug use is "far behind many countries," a day earlier, the head of Tehran's anti-narcotics police had expressed concern about the increase in drug use in Iran, especially among young people.

In an interview with Mehr News Agency, Abdolvahab Hassanvand pointed out the "increasing trend" of drug discoveries in Tehran and stated that nearly 3 tons of drugs were discovered last year, something that, according to him, "has no precedent at all."

The head of Tehran's anti-narcotics police said that currently 7,000 to 10,000 drug addicts are free in Tehran.

Referring to the spread of "emerging substances," Hassanvand called on officials to be vigilant among young people, high school students, and university students.

According to him, the "alarm bell" of the spread of emerging drugs among young people has been raised and "authorities must take more effective measures to prevent it."

The growing problem of addiction in Iran

Various statistics and reports have been published about the problem of addiction in Iran, showing that addiction is one of the biggest social challenges in Iran today.

For example, last December, the acting deputy minister for culture at the Ministry of Sports and Youth stated that we have not been successful in preventing drug use today, saying: "Reducing the age for drug use is a warning."

Sina Kalhor added that in the field of prevention, "just sending a text message" cannot be enough.

Last July, Mostafa Hadizadeh, secretary of the Tehran Province Anti-Drug Coordination Council, referred to the lowering of the age of addiction and the "feminization of drug use" and said that half of the country's prisoners are drug offenders.

Last June, the Director General of Treatment and Social Support of the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters announced that about 12 to 13 people die every day in Iran due to drug use.

Reza Tuyserkanmanesh had said that a total of four million and four hundred thousand people in Iran use drugs.

Officials in various provinces are also reporting an increase in the number of addicts, especially among young people.

For example, last October, the secretary of the Anti-Drug Headquarters of Ardabil Province announced that, according to official statistics, the age of addiction in this province is "decreasing."

Behnam Beheshti did not mention these "official statistics," but acknowledged that teenagers and young people have become inclined towards using industrial drugs.

Some experts cite unemployment, lack of social freedoms, political pressures, lack of recreational facilities, economic problems, and lack of prospects for the future as reasons for the spread of addiction in Iran.

Source: DW