Drug use on the rise among young Iranians: report
TEHRAN, Feb 17 (AFP) - Drug use in Iran is on the rise, particularly
among students despite government crackdowns, a newspaper here reported
Wednesday.
"There are currently more than three million drug users in Iran,
including 260,000 young students," conservative newspaper Resalat
said, citing a government official.
Around half of Iran's 60 million population is under the age of 25.
Resalat noted that drug seizures had also risen over the past few years,
without giving any further details.
Iran is a transit country for drugs shipped from Afghanistan and Pakistan
to Europe and the Middle East and about 200 tonnes were seized by Iranian
authorities last year.
Tehran adopted a tough anti-drug law in 1989 providing for the death
penalty for anyone found with more than 30 grams (just over one ounce)
of heroin or more than five kilos (11 pounds) of opium.
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