TEHRAN- With 4,000 martyrs in the fight against drugs, Iran is at the forefront of the war on drugs, the vice president for parliamentary affairs has said. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the “life helpers” exhibition on Thursday morning, Mohammad Hosseini described family, schools, media, and organizations as "effective" in reducing drug abuse.

Pointing to the various types of drugs and advertisements targeting youth to persuade them to use drugs, he emphasized the crucial role of family, school, and media in preventing drug addiction and creating trust and self-esteem among the youth. 

According to Hosseini, prevention is better than cure because preventive measures are cost-effective, so there should be proper planning and investment in this field.
He also highlighted the necessity of proper upbringing for children and teenagers, stating that if they are raised with no confidence, they will be easily tempted by others.

The vice president for parliamentary affairs who also served as culture minister in the Ahmadinejad administration reiterated that the Islamic Republic has paid the cost of fighting against drugs, which has greatly benefited the youth in other countries. 

He added that Westerners not only do not pay serious attention to fighting the drug trade, but in some cases, they support the spread of drugs in other countries. 

During the presence of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, according to Hosseini, the production of drugs increased considerably. 

According to Hosseini, the drug industry continues to thrive due to the substantial profits it generates, making it difficult to completely eradicate. Therefore, he emphasized that the most crucial action is the proper upbringing of children.