Pubdate: Mon, 01 Jul 2002 Source: Tehran Times (Iran) Copyright: 2002 Tehran Times Contact: http://www.tehrantimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1903 Section: Tehran Times Social Desk 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel