The former Deputy Health Minister states that 10% of Iran’s population and 27% of Rafsanjan’s population use opium.
Reza Malekzadeh, the former Deputy Health Minister, mentioned in a specialized medical conference about the increase in opium use in Iran, stating that 10% of the entire Iranian population uses opium.
Referring to the rate of opium use in Iran, he said that the people of Rafsanjan, with 27%, use opium the most, followed by the people of Golestan at 18%.
Opium is derived from the dried seed pod of the poppy flower and the unripe sap of this plant.
The opium flower contains various alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and thebaine, paramorphine, and is used in the production of various opiate substances.
After purifying opium, it is commonly used as an opiate and narcotic for pain relief or recreational purposes.