CLERIC: DRUG ABUSE THORNIEST PROBLEM OF IRAN'S SOCIETY

RASHT, Gilan Province -- Representative of Velayat-e Faqih in the Gilan
Province and Friday prayers leader of Rasht Ayatollah Zeinolabedin Qorbani
said the illicit drug abuse and trafficking is now the thorniest problem
facing the Iranian society.

Ayatollah Qorbani warned against the rampant drug consumption among the
youths and called for stronger actions against the evil of drugs, IRNA
reported.

Many mischievous acts such as theft, homicide, suicide, violence as well as
divorce are most of time linked with the drug problem, the cleric said.

He urged the forces, officials and organizations involved in the fight
against the illicit drugs to adopt concerted measurers to mop up the
drug-infested areas in the province from the drug dealers and abusers.

Effective measures should be adopted to counter the rampant drug problem
which he said threatens life of youth.

There are about 2 million people abusing illicit drugs, of whom 800,000
abuse narcotic drugs occasionally. Most of the drug addicts consume opium
but the consumption of heroin, in particular by injection, is on the rise.

The increasing abuse of illicit drugs have created complicated problems in
particular the overcrowding of the prisons. Abusing illicit drugs through
injection was a major factor responsible for the AIDS infection in Iran.

Ayatollah Qorbani said to effectively counter the drugs, officials should
first proceed to identify the root-causes of the problem, adding that
public awareness can be a good approach to hamper the spread of the drug
usage among people, and in particular, among young.

He further urged the organizations and ministries to actively take part in
the efforts to curb the narcotics dilemma.

The cleric said families should take duly care of their youth and prevent
them from falling pray to the drug abuse.

Iran sits on the crossroads of the international drug trade which
originates from sources in Afghanistan and Pakistan to markets in Central
Asia, Europe and Persian Gulf littoral states.

The fight against drug trafficking, particularly in the eastern borders,
has seen thousands of police officers killed in drug-related battles
throughout the country over the past two decades.