NUMBER OF ADDICTS RISING BY THE DAY

TEHRAN -- The Governor of Doroud, Hashem Valipour, during a meeting of the
Anti-Drug Headquarters here, disclosed that the number of drug addicts in
the country is rising by the day.

"Some 500 addicts from various cities are added daily to the total number,"
he added.

He further said that while the number of addicts is rising, the average age
of drug addiction is decreasing. He said the drug addict population of the
country has been found to double every 10 years.

He cited statistics indicating that "over 100 addicts succumb to drug
misuse every day." Valipour went on to say that the greatest concern of
most Iranian families is to keep their children away from the drug
disaster. He stressed the role of cultural centers in the campaign to
eliminate drug addiction in the country.

Citing poverty and unemployment as primary factors that encourage people to
turn to drugs, he noted with regret that in some cities access to drugs is
easier than access to bread.