Iran’s Activities on Prevention, Treatment and Harm Reduction of Drug Abuse

Abstract

Context:In the present review study, authors investigated Iran’s activities regarding prevention, abuse and harm reduction of drugs nationwide. The issue appears to be important in order to show the trend of activities in the country.Evidence Acquisition:In this report, authors gathered data from different Farsi/English peer review journals issued both in printed and online versions. These journals have been indexed in PubMed, ISI, ISC, SID, Magiran, UN, etc. These are among the most referred and cited databases.Results:Summarizing the data led to three distinguished sections: 1) drug supply reduction activities; 2) drug demand reduction activities; 3) harm reduction activities.Conclusions:As the results showed, the trend of activities was encouraging and some additional activities could be included to future programs relying on early-onset preventions.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Opiate Users in Methadone Treatment: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

“…In Western Asia, Iran is a vast and ancient Persian country with the traditional pattern of opium use (1).This is because of Afghanistan, the former part of Iran and the main global opium producer on the eastern borders. Afghan opiates are impure in Iran.…”

“…This is the only developed MMT system in Western Asia (1). However, opiate use on a stable methadone dose has been reported among some clients (1,2).…”

“…Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is widely available for Persian opiate users in Iran (1). This is the only developed MMT system in Western Asia (1).…”

“…Other illicit drugs of use include low purity methamphetamine, hashish and low quality opium residues (i.e. Shireh and Sukhteh) (1).…”

Sexual Dysfunction among Males with Opiate Dependence Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT)

“…However, some reports estimate a probable presence of two to four million people. In addition, the current, formally announced number of drug abusers in Iran is about two million (8,9).…”