In Iran, drug use has claimed the lives of 1,191 people in the first five months of the current year, with 16% of these deaths resulting from the use of psychoactive substances. The Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported this on Friday, November 6, citing the secretary of the Drug and Poison Information Center of the Food and Drug Administration, noting that this figure does not show a significant difference compared to the previous year. According to Talat Ghani, in 2014, a total of 2,986 deaths due to drugs and psychoactive substances occurred in Iran, with approximately 55% due to acute poisoning, 37% due to addiction-related complications, and 8% due to the use of psychoactive substances. Ghani explained that acute poisoning includes cases such as high dosage use and the opening of drug transport packages in the stomach, which accounted for the highest number of drug-related deaths. The second category includes deaths resulting from long-term drug use leading to diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis. Accordingly, the mortality rate from drug use in the first five months of this year was broken down as 53% due to acute poisoning, 31% related to addiction complications, and 16% due to the use of psychoactive substances. Iran is one of the countries with the highest rates of drug-related crimes, with dozens executed annually for such offenses. Reports also indicate a worsening situation regarding drug use in Iran, including a recent statement by the Iranian Vice President for Women's Affairs, indicating that the average age of addiction among girls in the country has reached 13 years. Just days earlier, the spokesperson for the Anti-Drug Headquarters announced that the mortality rate of addicted women in 2014 had increased by 33% compared to the previous year. In this context, 666 addicts died in the first three months of this year in Iran, and 240 tons of drugs were discovered in various provinces of Iran. Mahmoud Barati, a teacher and prisoner, was executed on drug-related charges.
1,191 Deaths in Five Months Due to Drug Use
In the first five months of the year, drug use in Iran resulted in 1,191 deaths, with a significant portion attributed to acute poisoning and addiction-related complications. The situation is worsening, particularly among young girls, highlighting a critical public health crisis in the country.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
In the first five months of the year, drug use in Iran resulted in 1,191 deaths, with a significant portion due to acute poisoning and addiction-related complications. The situation is worsening, particularly among young girls, highlighting a critical public health crisis.
- 1,191 drug-related deaths in the first five months of the year.
- 16% of deaths were due to psychoactive substances.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has long struggled with drug addiction issues, partly due to its proximity to Afghanistan, a major opium producer. The government's strict anti-drug laws include severe penalties, including execution.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%