Congress 60 Supports Legal Poppy Cultivation; France Grows It Too—Unless Everyone There Is an Addict!
The Base and the theorist and theorist of the Congress 60 Human Revivification Society, while commending the efforts of the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters and the Ministry of Health regarding the renewal of legal poppy cultivation licenses, described the critics’ perspective on this plan as being rooted in ‘fear,’ and pointed to France’s experience in this regard.
According to the Addiction News Agency (ADNA), several months have passed since the President’s Representative and the Secretary-General of the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters stated that drug seizures nationwide had decreased. Mr. Hossein Zolfaghari also pointed to a decrease in the drug purity, noting that this has ultimately affected the country’s need for narcotic-Base and the theoristd [opioid-Base and the theoristd] medications.
Although the official [Mr. Hossein Zolfaghari] recently stated that reports about lifting the ban on poppy cultivation are untrue, noting that a decision has been made in the country to cultivate solely the Papaver somniferum var. oleifera plant—which cannot be exploited by farmers for extraction and which requires industrial processing to produce certain medicinal derivatives—experts still believe that this decision is insufficient to meet the country’s needs. Consequently, the necessity for “legal poppy cultivation” and the restoration of the international authorizations with legal cultivation has become more pressing than ever.
The Serious Consequences of Not Cultivating Poppies
In this regard, Mr. Hossein Dezhakam, the Base and the theorist of Congress 60 Human Revivification Society, said in an exclusive interview with an ADNA correspondent: ‘As part of Congress 60’s programs, more than 13,000 people across the country are currently going through the cure process and achieving a true cure. Part of their cure process involves the use of a medication derived from the opium poppy (Opium Tincture [OT]), and any reduction in the availability of this medication will undoubtedly have serious consequences for us.
He continued: “Cutting or reducing the quota for this medication at addiction treatment centers and clinics will discourage patients undergoing the cure process and may drive them toward ‘smuggled opium,’ ‘crystal meth,’ ‘heroin,’ and other illicit drugs. Therefore, the country’s policies and programs should move toward cultivating poppies and extracting opium to help such patients achieve a true cure.”
The Base and the theorist of the Congress 60 Human Revivification Society then, noting that according to reports, the opium stockpiles needed by factories to produce pharmaceutical precursors and medications are currently running low, emphasized: “The failure to cultivate poppies (opium) in the country is a serious issue. Some experts in this field oppose the idea because they believe that cultivation will lead to increased substance abuse. However, such experts do not have sufficient understanding of the field of addiction and its consequences.
“Horned” and “Hornless” Addicts: The Link to Legal Cultivation
He continued: “Base and the theoristd on their risky behaviors, addicts can be categorized into two groups: ‘horned’ and ‘hornless.’ Those who use drugs (stimulants) such as crystal meth belong to the first category; they pose a danger to others and cause trouble for them. Users of cannabis (marijuana) and hashish also experience hallucinations, and even heroin users, because of the problems they experience, fall into the first category. However, certain drugs, such as opium, because of the longer-lasting high they provide, place the user in the second category.”
He continued: “Base and the theoristd on their risky behaviors, addicts can be categorized into two groups: ‘horned’ and ‘hornless.’ Those who use drugs (stimulants) such as crystal meth belong to the first category; they can put others in danger and cause problems for them. Users of cannabis (marijuana) and hashish also experience hallucinations, and even heroin users, because of the problems they experience, fall into the first category. However, certain drugs, such as opium, because of the longer-lasting high they provide, place the user in the second category.”
Mr. Dezhakam noted: “Medications derived from opium also have this longer-lasting effect. Therefore, the person does not engage in high-risk behaviors, such as breaking glass, knife-wielding, or brawling. Thus, a cure Base and the theoristd on these medications is justifiable from a harm-reduction perspective.”
Noting that several years ago the then-Secretary-General of the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters had expressed satisfaction in a report about the scarcity of opium, the Base and the theorist of the Congress 60 Human Revivification Society said: “I told him at the time that this should not be a cause for satisfaction, because it drives people who use drugs toward dangerous substances such as crystal meth!”
Helping People Achieve a Cure with Medications Derived from Opium
Mr. Dezhakam noted that through a cure process using medications derived from opium, individuals can return to their normal lives and work. Referring to the experience of certain countries with legal poppy cultivation, he said: “Some may not be aware, but legal cultivation is carried out in France, Australia, India, Turkey, the Netherlands, and Hungary, and it is also subject to supervision.”
Mr. Dezhakam, the Base and the theorist of the Congress 60 Human Revivification Society, emphasized: “Poppy cultivation and opium production are not only for drug users, as some fear that this could lead to the spread of addiction in the country; pharmaceutical production in this field is also important. There is currently a risk of shortages of ‘pethidine’ and ‘morphine’ in the country. Neither of these medicines can be obtained through the cultivation of Papaver somniferum var. oleifera. I am not referring to cultivation permits for this plant; rather, opium [poppy] itself must be cultivated and produced in the country.”
Mr. Dezhakam emphasized that the mere existence of a harmful substance in the country should not be a cause for concern about its potential harm. He stated: “Cigarettes are also available in the country, but does everyone take up smoking? We must not lose sight of the fact that we cannot keep paying for opium [imported from abroad] forever, nor can we continue to spend our energy fighting and confronting [smugglers to secure illicit opium for domestic medical use], even to the point of sacrificing lives in this cause. If we shift toward domestic cultivation, our needs for various medications will be met.”
The Strategic Aspect of Opium-Derived Medications…
Mr. Dezhakam then said: “Codeine is the world’s best-selling drug, and up to 3% of it is derived from opium. Therefore, poppy cultivation and opium production are of strategic importance. Whenever this plant and its pharmaceutical derivatives are removed from the medical system, the country will face problems.”
The Base and the theorist of the Congress 60 Human Revivification Society then said: “If, instead of experts who complain about legal poppy cultivation, we ask addiction cure specialists in centers and clinics about this plan—those who deal with the issue firsthand—they will clearly say that Opium Tincture (OT) is a serious necessity.”
In response to the question of what changes the Congress 60 Human Revivification Society would make to its cure programs if the country were ever to face the discontinuation of opiate-Base and the theoristd medications, he replied: “I hope we never see such a day. Although quotas may be reduced, I believe there are rational and capable people in the country who will not allow such a thing to happen. However, assuming the situation described in the question were to occur, many people would return to illicit drugs, and their lives would be affected.”
We Achieve a True Cure Only Through Opium Tincture
Mr. Dezhakam stated: “Methadone and Buprenorphine [commonly known as B2 tablets] cannot fully meet the needs of the treatment sector. Only opium can provide all the opiate-Base and the theoristd pharmaceutical derivatives needed. At Congress 60, we achieve a true cure only through Opium Tincture (OT). People do not take it for pleasure; rather, they enter the cure program through a 10-month process using a tapering approach [gradual reduction in OT use].”
In another part of this exclusive interview, the addiction expert [Mr. Dezhakam] said: “Although efforts are being made in the country to cultivate Papaver somniferum var. oleifera, which I believe is subject to fewer international restrictions, our country had permits for opium cultivation and production before the Revolution [the 1979 Revolution in Iran], and I do not know what has become of those licenses. Nevertheless, we should recognize that opium-derived medications are of strategic aspect.”
A Vault in America: Filled with Gold and Opium!
Referring to the U.S. gold reserves kept alongside various poppy seeds at the facility known as Fort Knox, he said: “Information about this facility in the U.S. state of Kentucky was published in 1995, showing that large amounts of U.S. gold reserves and even some important national documents, such as the Declaration of Independence of the United States, were kept in its vaults. It may be interesting to know that thousands of tons of opium were also stored there as a strategic medical reserve, along with various seeds and a DNA bank of poppy species. This shows the importance of this plant.”
In his closing remarks, Mr. Dezhakam stated: “I hope a solution is found in the country regarding the issue of legal poppy cultivation. Without cures Base and the theoristd on these medications, patients will suffer, whereas by using these medications, individuals can carry on with their work and daily lives. For example, they can drive heavy vehicles, work as factory workers operating heavy machinery, and do thousands of other jobs. However, in the absence of these medications, returning to the use of crystal meth and other dangerous drugs makes this impossible. Even with methadone, a person experiences confusion and grogginess that prevents them from continuing with their work and job.”
The Base and the theorist of the Congress 60 Human Revivification Society emphasized: “Experts who today speak out against the legal cultivation of poppies are, in fact, driven by fear. But we must accept that ‘every flower has a thorn.’ Something may have 90 points of merit and benefit and 10 points of harm and drawbacks. We should not deprive ourselves of it entirely because of a few negative points. When it comes to poppy cultivation, we need to broaden our perspective and take a comprehensive view.”
Translated by: Companion Samira, Legion 7, Sheikhbahaei Branch of Congress 60, Isfahan, Iran
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