Shahrzadnews:Official figures released this week put the number of women addicted to illegal narcotics and alcohol in Iran at 130,000, 9.5 % of the total addict population. Over 90% are classed as homeless.
Dr. Farid Barani, director of the Prevention and Rehabilitation Center for Addicts, told the ILNA news agency: “We treated 3000 female addicts last year, and this year we expect the figure to rise to around 37,000.”
Barani added that over 60% of the women had never received any medical care and support from the center.
“Obviously these figures are not satisfactory. However new legislation prevents the Better Health Organization from setting up more treatment centers, otherwise we would have done better. The matter has been laid before the Ministry of Health,” said Barani.
Family members’ cultural attitudes and sense of shame make it impossible to assess the actual number of drug addicts in Iran.
