Despite aggressive antidrug policies, the Islamic Republic has a fairly large drug-using community, with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimating that the country has 1.2 million drug-dependent users, as writer Roland Brown reports in Foreign Policy. From crystal meth to crack, Iran's drug users have an ample supply, but Azad, Brown's guide to the Islamic Republic's opiate underground, says that opium is "Iran's oldest and most entrenched drug."
Above, an opium pipe is warmed on a brazier of coals in Shiraz, Iran. The pipe must be warned in order to vaporize the solid opium.
Roland Brown
"Pills," or portions of hardened opium resin, sit ready for use. Globally, illegal opium is often converted into heroin, which is significantly stronger, less bulky, and therefore easier to smuggle.
Roland Brown
An opium pipe is warmed on a brazier in Shiraz, Iran. Portions of opium are placed in the ceramic bulb at the end and will vaporize at high heat. Opium is not socially acceptable in most parts of the country, but in some areas it is associated with local culture. "Traditionally, when a girl gets married in [the south-eastern province of Kerman], among the things she's expected to take to her husband is an elaborate set for preparing opium, even though it's illegal," Brown was told.
Roland Brown
The opium in the ceramic bulb at the end of the pipe will vaporize when a hot coal is applied to it.
Roland Brown
An opium pipe rests
on a specially-
Because of the amount of parapherna
Roland Brown
A hot coal is applied to the ceramic bulb containing the opium. The user inhales the vapour.
Roland Brown
The pipe is shared between users. Some famous opium users in Persian history include the poet Hafez, who wrote, "A wound from you is worthier than salve from others/Your poison, sweeter than the opium they render."
Roland Brown
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PARSA_KH
3:14 AM ET
November 19, 2011
Slide 7 problem
I think there is an misunderstanding in the last slide , you wrote a poem from Hafez , what was your clue " he was a opium user " ? and you have translated the poem wrong , you have used opium instead of antidote ."Taryak" in Persian has two meanings , opium and antidote , and in old Persian literature the second one is more common . So your translation is totally wrong .
ARIA.RADMAND
7:54 AM ET
November 19, 2011
That sounds ridiculous
Dude!
And do you think "antidote" is sweet?
And will you tell your lover something like this "Your poison, sweeter than the antidote they render"???
That sounds ridiculous! :))
I agree with you that writing something like this is not enough evidence to put somebody into the circle of "Famous Opium Users"! But i really do not think that the poem translation is somehow wrong.
PARSA_KH
4:25 PM ET
November 19, 2011
so you think i'm wrong
And do you think "opium" is sweet? here we are talking about poison and antidote , they are opposite . would you please tell me the relation between opium and poison ? actually Taryak in Hafez poems and any other person in those day means antidote ( if you are not sure please check it Dehkhoda glossary , Moeen glossary or anywhere else . its main and old meaning is antidote ) and here Hafez is talking about antidote NOT OPIUM . I don't care if he used to inject heroin or sniff cocain , but i'm sure this translation is totally wrong , BTW I feel terrible for you Mr. Radmand , Unfortunately you don't know your first language well .
REBORN
2:26 PM ET
November 20, 2011
Ironic
In my country, many Iranians who was caught because smuggle narcotics. It is very ironic for a country where religion becomes the main basis of the wheels of government. As a country which has implemented a strict rule, how could the drug couriers can travel abroad freely with drugs?
DEMOFACTOR
9:33 PM ET
November 20, 2011
Drugs as a weapon against West?
Frequently American local news are talking about drag problems. I do not understand how Iran as a country which has implemented a strict religious rule, could the drug tolerated and do nothing to prevent drag export to Europe and America? Is it a war against West but without arms and troops?
GENEROSALES
12:25 PM ET
November 22, 2011
@foreignpolicy
my buddy's mother makes $70 every hour on the computer. She has been out of work for 7 months but last month her pay was $8152 just working on the computer for a few hours. Read about it here trunc.it/ja2dr
DOMINOES
12:14 PM ET
December 10, 2011
drugs are terrible
This is obvious, but they have the power to enslave people and keep them indentured to the machine...never questioning and always working to keep the machine working and running, but there has to be a way to empower the people of Iran...there are definitely the treatment options in iran in terms of drugrehabilitation, but there has to be a way to improve the treatment options and get these poor people help...it is a shame, but there is a way to get things better and get them off of drugs.
THOMASMAYS
6:56 PM ET
December 14, 2011
The Islamic Republic
During my country, many Iranians who had been caught because smuggle narcotics. It's very ironic for any country where religion becomes the primary foundation of the wheels of government. Like a country that has implemented a strict rule, how is the drug couriers can travel abroad freely with drugs? I believe it comes with an misunderstanding within the last slide, you wrote a poem from onionbooty, that which was your clue he would be a opium user?