Alcohol Abuse Prevention on SWO Agenda

The State Welfare Organization aims to launch programs to help alcohol addicts kick the habit.

“The organization has signed an agreement with non-governmental organizations,” Mohsen Roshan Pajouh, deputy for prevention and rehabilitation at SWO, told IRNA on Wednesday.

A national survey on the prevalence of addiction shows that in the 14-64 age bracket, 2.7% consumed alcohol last week (July 15-21). The figure for the previous month was four percent.

“It should be noted that consumption doesn’t always imply addiction,” the official said. “Even though the consumption of alcohol in Iran is below the global average, we expected a much lower figure as our religion and law prohibit alcoholic drinks.”

There is a significant difference in the number of male and female alcohol consumers, with men making up the large majority, he said without providing exact figures.

The official conceded that the “self-disclosure” may not be very accurate, but the figures combined with sporadic reports of alcohol poisoning paint a grim picture.

It is obvious that something effective needs to be done to alleviate this scourge with the instruments of “prevention and cure” , Roshan Pajouh said.

Pointing to the formation of the National Committee to Prevent Alcohol Addiction at the Interior Ministry, he said as per law the Health Ministry is responsible for the rehab of  alcoholics while the SWO is tasked with empowering former-addicts and help them reintegrate into society.