Majles Rep. Jahanabadi: Root Cause of Drug Abuse Social and Cultural, Not Addressed through Police Action Alone
Rahimi Jahanabadi:
One must stop looking at the fight against drugs as [a singular issue], an island [separate from everything else]. /A law enforcement-centric fight [and approach] is not effective.
Noting that social and cultural problems are at the root of resorting to drugs, this member of the Majless’ (“Assembly’s”) Judicial and Legal Commission Presiding Board stated: “The fight against drugs encompasses many different realms and must therefore stop being treated as if it is[a singular issue], an island [separate from everything else].”
______________________________________________________________________________
In an interview conducted by Khaneye Mellat News Agency’s reporter, Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi had this to say concerning the shortcomings of the Law for the Fight Against Illicit Drugs: “Modifying the Law for the Fight Against Illicit Drugs is a necessity, but the problem of drugs is not going to be resolved simply by passing laws. Right now, there is research that shows the root causes of addiction, and the results of this research must, therefore, be assessed and implemented.”
The people of Torbat-e Jaam, Taibad, and Bakharz's representative in the Islamic Consultative Assembly emphasized: “Unfortunately, the lack of proper facilities for wholesome, healthy, and refreshing leisure activities and sports; lack of proper education; as well as weak and shaky religious and moral beliefs; are considered to be the causes of resorting to drugs in this abandoned society. Such a society will not, therefore, be reformed solely by preaching to it or through police action.”
Stressing the point that police action does not prevent resorting to drugs, he added: “Unfortunately, our young people are unemployed in spite of having the will and the enthusiasm of youth, and do not have an environment where they can realize their potential. And people resort to chemical joy-inducers and chemical pain-killers, and to drugs, in order to alleviate the pain of living in a depressed and joyless environment.”
Rahimi Jahanabadi believes: “The root causes of resorting to drugs are social and cultural. Therefore, so long as social and cultural ills and problems are not resolved, there will be an increase in the variety of available drugs and in drug use.”
Noting that the Law for the Fight Against Illicit Drugs also needs to be amended, this people’s representative in the Islamic Consultative Assembly stated: “Although this Law has been amended a number of times, its most important part, however, which is a more forceful fight with principal drug trafficking gangs, must be seen in a more serious and decisive manner; of course, some of this was considered and modified in the Plan for the Reduction of the Death Penalty.”
This member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly’s Judicial and Legal Commission Presiding Board emphasized: “Also, we must stop looking at the fight against drugs as an island separate from everything else. In fact, the regime’s various sections [and institutions], including, executive, supervisory, judicial, legal, and cultural bodies, must take part in the fight against drugs. The Headquarters for the Fight Against Illicit Drugs is not the sole body responsible for combating and punishing drug [offenses]. Therefore, one cannot look at the fight against drugs, which encompasses many different realms, as an island separate from everything else.”
End of message