TEHRAN –As long as there is demand for narcotic drugs, their supply and distribution cannot be restricted, so the strategies for dealing with illicit drugs have to primarily focus on controlling and lowering demand, President Masoud Pezeshkian has announced.

Referring to addiction as one of the significant concerns of society, which is a root cause of many crimes and social corruption, he highlighted the inefficiency of the methods implemented so far in dealing with addiction in the country in the past years.
The president made the remarks on Monday in a meeting with the officials of anti-narcotics headquarters, IRNA reported.

“Despite the many efforts that have been made in the country, we are still a long way from optimal conditions which makes it necessary to review and change the current methods by learning from the successful experiences of other countries,” Pezeshkian added.

Failing to monitor and curb demand for narcotic drugs, and focusing mainly on preventing drug supply are among the mistakes in the fight against narcotics, he further noted.

Identifying the population in risk of addiction, developing preventive strategies as well as educational programs for the target group, supporting addicts to control and reduce their consumption, treating and finally empowering them to reintegrate into the society are among proven successful methods, the president stated.

He went on to underscore the significance and necessity of utilizing the capacity of health centers saying that if health centers across the country, in the form of a codified and coherent program, accurately diagnose addicted people in their target society and support them to monitor and minimize their consumption, they will be gradually cured. Consequently, the drop in demand will reduce supply of narcotic drugs, as well. 

In addition to providing social work services, the government  regards itself responsible and obliged  to take measures  that will  treat addicts, and help them earn a living by creating employment opportunities for them.

Effective implementation of anti-narcotics programs

In March, the secretary general of the anti-narcotics headquarters stressed the need for effective implementation of anti-narcotics programs in the region free from political considerations.

“One of the most important challenges of the present era is the narcotic drugs, industrial substances and new psychedelics and the sufferings that I would like to refer to as the quiet war against humanity,” IRIB quoted Eskandar Momeni as saying.

He made the remarks in the 67th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, urging all countries to be committed to the sustainable and effective implementation of international drug control conventions.

“In the past five years, adopting a balanced strategy in the fight against drugs, the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken effective measures to promote security and public health in alignment with the implementation of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration, international treaties, and conventions,” Momeni added.

He referred to the compilation and implementation of the comprehensive document on treatment and harm reduction; the expansion of treatment centers both quantitatively and qualitatively,  the maximum use of the private sector and non-governmental organizations (7,200 centers), employing diverse treatment methods including pharmaceuticals and psychological and social interventions, ensuring access to medicinal substances for medical and scientific purposes, boosting harm reduction programs by providing various services to people at risk and managing the spread of AIDS and Hepatitis C  as other measure taken by the country.

Momeni underscored the need to stop the unilateral sanctions and foster cooperation between the United Nations, international communities, and Iran to strengthen the global fight against drugs.

Iran has been the only country on the front line of the war against narcotics for over 45 years despite oppressive sanctions of the U.S., the economic problems ahead, and the limited contribution of other countries.

In June 2023, the UNODC representative in Tehran, Alexander Fedulov said Iran should provide other countries of the world with its experiences in dealing with narcotics.

“The successful experiences of Iran’s anti-narcotics police in the field of combating drug transit should be made available to all countries in the region and the world in different ways,” he added.

The international community, while becoming more familiar with the countermeasures of the Islamic Republic of Iran, should provide more support for the fight against narcotics in this country, the UNODC official stressed.