Drug addiction�is widespread across Iran.�It plagues�populations of all ages, from drivers to bazaar vendors to government employees and even�college students.�Various government policies have been tried to address the�matter but�so far have failed to�lower�the numbers of addicts. A large share of these failures is�due to faulty perspective and policies in confronting this social phenomenon.�Drug addiction has not been considered a crime since the drug-law�reform�in 2010.�According to Article 19 of Iran's�drug law, someone who�abuses drugs�without suffering from addiction�should be punished.�Before 2010, addicts were treated as criminals, but�addiction itself is no longer�considered a crime.�Addicts might be punished for other infractions such as�abusing drugs in public.
Drug abuse by non-addicts�is still considered a crime. According to the law,�non-addicts�who use traditional drugs�such as opium or hashish�are to be sentenced to 20-74 lashes and�fined 1 million to 5�million�rials ($40-$200), and those who consume manufactured drugs such as heroin and cocaine are to be sentenced to�50-74 lashes and�fined�2 million to�10�million rials ($80-$400). Possessing,�transporting or�dealing drugs�involve�much heavier penalties, and in some cases are punishable by death.
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