Statement by H.E. Dr. Kazemi, Deputy Secretary General, Drug Control Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Meeting on Enhancing and Strengthening of Regional and International Cooperation as Well as Domestic Efforts for Addressing the Global Problem of Synthetic Drugs Vienna - 30 January 2024    In the name of God Mr. Chairman, Distinguished delegates, At the outset, I deem it necessary to thank the UNODC on behalf of the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran for organizing this important meeting. We acknowledge the role of this open-ended expert group in addressing and investigating the destructive impacts of synthetic drugs and Psychoactive substances. Mr. Chairman, Based on the UNODC report, the cultivation of opium poppy in Afghanistan has considerably declined in 2023. Hence, consistent, and balanced alternative development plans should be carried out for the former farmers. One should also take into consideration the other UNODC report indicating that methamphetamine production in Afghanistan has been unprecedentedly increasing. Apparently, dealing with synthetic drugs must not overshadow the opiates problem in Afghanistan. Hence, we re-emphasize the imperative for addressing opium production, along with methamphetamine manufacturing. The issue of synthetic drugs has turned into one of the major problems faced by humanity in the 21st century. Nowadays synthetic drugs and diversity of new psychoactive substances alongside traditional plant-based drugs pose worrisome threats to the health and welfare of societies and also threatens the economic, social and moral foundations of countries as well as the generative human resources namely youths, women and girls.  Distinguished participants, Iran remains committed to the implementation of its international commitments concerning treaties, conventions and other relevant international instruments and has given priority to the implementation of a balanced strategy incorporating demand and harm reduction and supply reduction as well as promoting international cooperation.  Some of related major actions taken by Iran are as follows: Policymaking through updating and amending procedures and the Anti-Narcotics Act encompassing a serious fight against the illicit production and use of psychotropic substances, ATSs and methamphetamine, controlled delivery operation, anti-money-laundering law, countering precursor chemicals diversion, enacting law for countering electronic crimes, setting up a data bank, implementing a survey on the number of opiate consumers, conducting national and regional studies and research, review and implementation of the national drug control strategy, expanding medical services and guaranteeing drug availability for medical and scientific purposes. Implementation of plans: Supply Reduction We have continued the implementation of projects aimed at border management as well as blocking the country’s eastern borders. Such measures have also been expanded to the western borders of the country along the Balkan route. Despite certain restrictions caused by the cruel unilateral sanctions, we have reinforced and equipped our border crossing points (land, sea, and air) and at the same time enhanced the qualitative and quantitative capacities of the forces in proportionate with the enormity of the problem. In the same vein, the law enforcement agencies of the country have managed to dismantle approximately 2,300 rings leading to the seizure of more than 660 tons of drugs including more than 37 tons of methamphetamine in 2023 which indicates a 23 percent increase compared to the previous year. The analysis of activities and achievements indicates the professional nature of the country’s performance in the areas of drug control. To better understand the significance of Iran’s activities, it should be noted that Iran all by itself has managed to intercept more than 30 percent of illicit heroin originating in Afghanistan before entering into the international illicit market.  Demand and Harm Reduction: First, our priority has been given to primary prevention. The main activities under our prevention strategy is including the various methods for child upbringing, life skills for families, developing the national hotline for addiction counseling, inclusion of educational material on addiction prevention in school textbooks, creating student associations for raising awareness about the harms caused by addiction known as “helpers of life”, training specialized manpower, implementing community-based projects and setting up portable and permanent exhibitions. Second, access to drugs for medical purposes within the framework of the three international conventions, while countering their diversion. Moreover, the implementation of demand reduction policies with the aim of minimizing the negative implications of drug abuse and promoting public health is an inseparable part of Iran’s balanced strategy. As to the country’s treatment plans, I draw your attention to the use of maintenance treatment with methadone, buprenorphine, opium tincture, residential and outpatient psycho-social interventions, making use of various scientific methods for treatment and rehabilitation of individuals who suffer from drug use disorder.     Third, the demand and harm reduction plans focus on offering services within mobile teams and mobile centers such as providing sterilized syringe and needle, food, sanitary items, taking a bath, sleeping in shelters, use of low threshold methadone for homeless and needy addicts who suffer from sexually transmitted diseases. The implementation of harm reduction plans has controlled the spread of HIV/AIDS among IDUs.   Forth, synthetic drug users have been managed at addiction treatment clinics through controlling serious psychiatric symptoms with drug-based interventions as well as psychological interventions. There are approximately 7,200 addiction treatment clinics including residential, outpatient and inpatient centers with nearly 42,000 specialists operating at the centers. Moreover, other similar measures have been taken such as the operationalization of 276 specialist psychiatric hospitals as well as special hospitals for children and the public with more than 10,000 beds for patients who use ice and stimulant drugs. It should be noted that more than 80 percent of programs in harm reduction and addiction treatment are carried out by NGOs and the private sector. There are approximately 2,700 active NGOs in the country that 900 of them are active in the field of treatment. It means that all individuals in need of treatment have access to such services.    I wish to seize the opportunity to express our preparedness for sharing the experiences and lesson learnt with other countries. To this end, UNODC has designated one of my country's treatment centers as a regional center for treatment studies on drug abuse disorders.     Mr. Chairman, At this point allow me to touch upon some of the impediments and challenges in tackling the proliferation of synthetic drugs and psychoactive substances: Selective and politically motivated approaches. The imposition of coercive and unilateral measures by the certain state, against Iran as the flag bearer of the fight against illicit drugs has hampered the enhancement of international cooperation, the implementation of regional initiatives and the full implementation of joint programs with UNODC in the field of drug control. Meanwhile, based on scientific evidence, sanctions have restricted access and, in some cases blocked access to basic drugs and pharmaceutical components for scientific and medical purposes as well as the changing of the consumption model to riskier drugs. Therefore, those imposing the sanctions are directly accountable for the tragic consequences of such illegal and illegitimate actions. Failure of certain countries in fulfilling their international commitments under international drug control conventions such as legalization of controlled drugs, Unlimited access by criminal gangs and their misuse of cyberspace and social networks aimed at spreading the cultivation, production, manufacture and use of drugs, their precursors and the related illicit financial flows. Lack of cooperation by certain countries that produce precursors which are used in the production of synthetic drugs in sharing data with the information exchange mechanisms introduced by UNODC and INCB. Diversity of socio-economic repercussions of illicit drug-related activities in different regions of the world. This means that solutions for countering drugs must be tailored to the situation of the countries of concern and enormity of the problem. Esteemed participants, To conclude, I wish to avail myself of the opportunity and present the proposals of the Islamic Republic of Iran for mitigating the drug-related challenges in the region and the world: Termination of drug cultivation and production which is the common aspect of drug control projects throughout the world will not be realized in the absence of global support and manifestation of shared responsibility. Accordingly, we strongly support alternative livelihood projects in Afghanistan. Producers of synthetic drugs and their precursors as well as transit and destination countries shall take up controlling measures and countering any act of diversion at the national level and strengthen exchange of information through the international mechanisms, namely through INCB and UNODC tools. Furthermore, countries should play a more serious role concerning the registration of online information in the platforms provided by UNODC and INCB. It is necessary to formulate an international mechanism for dissemination of information under the auspices of CND, WHO and INCB for sharing information and holding scientific consultations in relation to various aspects of harm reduction. It is necessary to remove all impediments particularly those caused by unilateral sanctions in order to have an easy access to internationally controlled drugs for medical and scientific purposes based on the provisions of the international drug control conventions and also provide the affected countries with required technical assistance and equipment. Improving mechanisms for intelligence-sharing and operational cooperation among law enforcement agencies Thank you for your attention.