Ali Hashemi, in a meeting with officials from Zanjan province, stated that the direct and indirect costs of drug use in Iran amount to 45 trillion rials annually, adding that "the phenomenon of drugs is among the top four global issues, alongside nuclear and atomic crises." He regarded drug-related issues as organized crime, containing multiple crimes within this phenomenon. According to the website Baztab, Hashemi further described drug trafficking and addiction as a serious threat to the security and public interests of Iran, stating that "narcotics have destroyed many families and imposed heavy costs on the system." He noted that currently, there are 200 million people worldwide suffering from addiction, and of the two million addicts in Iran, 1.2 million are regular users while 800,000 use drugs recreationally. The Secretary-General of Iran's Drug Control Headquarters mentioned that the average age of addiction in Iran is currently between 29 and 33 years, adding that "Iranian addicts consume between 800 to 100 tons of drugs annually." He also pointed out that the death toll from substance abuse in the first six months of this year has averaged 12 people daily, and added that in the early years following the Islamic Revolution, there were 23 prisoners per 100,000 people, which has now risen to 287 prisoners.
13 Million People in Iran Involved with Drugs Daily - 2003-12-10
Ali Hashemi reported that 13 million people in Iran are involved with drugs daily, with significant economic and social costs. The issue is seen as a major threat to national security and public welfare, with rising addiction rates and prison populations.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Ali Hashemi highlighted the severe drug problem in Iran, stating that 13 million people are involved with drugs daily, which poses significant economic and social challenges. He emphasized the issue as a major threat to national security and public welfare.
- The annual cost of drug use in Iran is estimated at 45 trillion rials.
- There are approximately 2 million drug addicts in Iran, with a rising death toll from substance abuse.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has long struggled with drug addiction, partly due to its geographic location along major drug trafficking routes. The issue has societal, economic, and political implications.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%